Thirty-one matches have been scheduled for this weekend, as 62 vie for the $100,000 winner’s cheque at stake when the T&T Football Association National FA Trophy Competition gets underway at the weekend with matches across T&T.
On Saturday, T&T Super League leaders Hydro Tech Guaya United will plunge into action against D Marie Hill Youths at 4 pm at the D Hill Recreation Ground in Sangre Grande.
Coach Ron La Forrest, known as the “Professor”, is attempting to shake off a few niggling injury concerns in his camp, assuring his team will be ready for any game including the FA Cup encounter. Yesterday he told Guardian Media Sports he had a stern talk with his players after they failed to step up to the plate when they were given an opportunity. “Because of injuries to a few players on the team, we had to use three bench players and they did not perform the way they were expected to, so I had to impress upon them the importance of seizing the opportunity when they are given,” La Forrest explained.
D Marie Hill Youths are winners of the Eastern Counties Football Union (ECFU) League competition last year and will be hoping to create a major upset on Saturday. Apart from the $100,000 cash prize the winner of the tournament will also receive 25 gold medals and a trophy, while the runner-up will walk away with $25,000 and 25 silver medals. Other cash incentives include winner of round of 32—$3,000, winner of round of 16—$5,000, winner of round of eight—$7,000, winners of quarterfinals—$9,000, winners of semifinals $11,000.
Hydro Tech Guaya United are one of eight Super League teams in action on Saturday. The others are the University of T&T (UTT), Prisons FC, which campaign in the Championship Division, Perseverance Ball Runners, Siparia Spurs, Cunupia FC, Harlem Strikers and Bethel FC.
The university men will begin their campaign at their O’Meara Campus Ground against Northern FA champs Malta Carib Alcons from 4 pm, while the Prisons officers will face Manzan United, another ECFU team at 4 pm at the Manzanilla Recreation Ground.
Also Saturday, a clash between T&T Pro League teams Central FC and Morvant Caledonia AIA will take centre stage at the Ato Boldon Stadium, Couva, at 4 pm, while W Connection and San Juan Jabloteh will take the field against Tamana United at the Ato Boldon Stadium and La Horquetta XF at the Larry Gomes Stadium from 4 pm, respectively.
FA Trophy 2017 - Full Round of 64 match-ups
(Home teams are listed first)
(Saturday 16 September 2017)
Central FC (Pro League) vs Morvant Caledonia United (Pro League), 4pm, Ato Boldon Stadium;
San Juan Jabloteh (Pro League) vs La Horquetta XF (EFA), 4pm, Larry Gomes Stadium, Malabar;
Siparia Spurs (SL) vs North East Stars (Pro League), 4pm, Palo Seco Recreation Ground, Palo Seco;
Eagles FC (CFA) vs Sangre Grande Dream Team (ECFU), 4pm, Africa Ground, Enterprise;
D’Marie Hill Youths (ECFU) vs Guaya United (Super League), 4pm, D’Marie Hill Recreation Ground, Sangre Grande;
Malta Carib Alcons (NFA) vs UTT (SL), 4pm, UTT Ground, O’Meara;
Fire Service FC (CFA) vs Black Rock FC (TFA), 4pm, Woodford Lodge, Chaguanas;
Manzan United (ECFU) vs Prisons FC (SL), 4pm, Manzanilla Recreation Ground;
1976 FC Phoenix (SL) vs Goal City FC (TFA), 5pm, Bon Accord Recreation Ground, Tobago;
Perseverance Ball Runners (CFA) Erin FC (SFA), 4pm, New Settlement Ground, Chaguanas;
Biche United (ECFU) vs Trinity Rangers (EFA), 4pm, Biche Recreation Ground, Biche;
QPCC (SL) vs FC FC Santa Rosa (SL), 4pm, St. Anthony’s Grounds, Westmoorings;
Petit Valley United (SL) vs Cunupia FC (SL), 4pm, Diego Martin North Secondary, Diego Martin;
Central Soccer World (CFA) vs Harlem Strikers (CFA), 4pm, St. Mary’s Ground, Freeport;
Calder Hall FC (TFA) vs Bethel FC (SL), 6pm, Mt. Pleasant Recreation Ground, Tobago;
Serial Strikers (SFA) vs Pitchmen FC (SFA), 4pm, Lachoos Road Recreation Facility, Penal.
(Sunday 17 September 2017)
W Connection (Pro League) vs Tamana United (ECFU), 5pm, Ato Boldon Stadium;
St. Ann’s Rangers (Pro League) vs Perseverance Ball Runners (CFA), TBA;
Cultural Roots (NFA) vs Club Sando (Pro League), 4:30pm, Dibe Recreation Ground, St. James;
Red Hill FC (EFA) vs Point Fortin Civic (Pro League), 4pm, Maloney Recreation Ground, Maloney;
Belmont FC (NFA) vs Defence Force (Pro League), 5pm, Hasely Crawford Stadium training field;
WASA FC (SL) vs Police FC (Pro League), 5pm, WASA Ground, St. Joseph;
Santa Flora FC (SFA) vs Harlem Strikers (SL), 4pm, Santa Flora Ground, Santa Flora;
RSSR (NFA) vs Signal Hill United (THA), 4pm, Hasely Crawford Stadium;
San Fernando Giants (SFA) vs St. Francois Nationals (NFA), 4pm, Union Recreation Ground, Claxton Bay;
Club Sando Moruga (SL) vs Perseverance United (CFA), 4pm, Grand Chemin Recreation Ground, Moruga;
Leeds FC (TFA) vs Creek SCC (EFA), 4pm, Mt. Pleasant Recreation Ground, Tobago;
Step by Step Maple (NFA) vs Stokely Vale FC (SL), 3:30pm, Hasely Crawford Stadium training field;
Central 500 Spartans (SL) vs Marabella Family Crisis Centre (SL), 4pm, Edinburgh 500 Recreation Ground, Chaguanas;
Defence Force FC (SL) vs Youth Stars (SL), 4pm, Defence Force Headquarters Ground, Chaguarams;
Pele Pele (SFA) vs Police FC (SL), 4pm, La Brea Recreation Facility;
WASA FC (EFA) vs FC Maloney (EFA), 3pm, WASA Ground, St. Joseph.