Striker Kenwyne Jones admits that Stoke City will be the underdogs in next month’s FA Cup Final against Manchester City but warns that the less favoured team will be pumped for the encounter and shall not be taken lightly.
Jones will become only the third Trinidadian to appear in an English FA Cup Final. Dwight Yorke was the first to do so, in the 1999 Final for Manchester United in their 2-0 win over Newcastle United, coming on in the 60th minute for Andy Cole. Then there was goalkeeper Shaka Hislop for West Ham United in their loss to Liverpool in May of 2006.
Steven Gerrard scored a 91st minute equaliser for Liverpool to make it 3-3 forcing the game into extra time and penalty kicks. Hislop saved a penalty but the “Hammers” still lost 3-1. Bobby Zamora, who is eligible to play for T&T, was also in that West Ham squad.
“I am very happy to reach the FA Cup Final as it’s every footballer’s dream to play in one and also to walk out onto the pitch at Wembley.
Being the third Trinidadian to do so is also another fantastic feat that I’m looking forward to and I’m very happy to be held in very high esteem as my two fellow countrymen,” Jones added.
He expects Stoke to approach the game in the same manner they did in their 5-0 thumping of Bolton Wanderers. “Well just like it was for the semifinal we’re probably already written off but as it’s gone many times this season there can be upsets.
Manchester City are expected to win because of their massive resources but we will approach the game with a lot of belief and focus and hopefully we can pull this one off,” Jones added.
The only other Trinidadians to appear in an FA Cup Final in the United Kingdom was Jerren Nixon when he appeared in the 86th minute of Dundee’s 1-0 win over Glasgow Rangers while Jason Scotland and Collin Samuel both appeared for Dundee United in the final when they lost 1-0 to Celtic in 2005.