THE Lucozade Sport Goal Shield knockout football tournament kicks off today with a qualifying match, meant to eliminate one of the nine local Pro League teams.
Today, St Ann’s Rangers will meet San Juan Jabloteh from 4 p.m. at the Larry Gomes Stadium, with the winners moving onto the quarter-final stage on Saturday against defending champions Directv W Connection.
The quarter-final round kicks off tomorrow with a double-header at Ato Boldon Stadium, where Central FC face 2012 champions Caledonia AIA from 6 p.m., while two hours later 2010 winners North East Stars come up against two-time defeated finalists Defence Force.
On Saturday, Connection face the playoff winners between Rangers and Jabloteh from 5 p.m., while two hours later Point Fortin Civic meet Police FC.
Last year, Connection won 4-3 on penalty kicks over North East Stars, following a goalless draw at Marvin Lee Stadium.
W Connection have already won the Digicel Charity Shield, Toyota Classic and FA Trophy this year. They currently also lead the Digicel Pro League and want to win a third Goal Shield as well.
Yesterday, the tournament was launched at Capital Plaza in Port of Spain, where a $90,000 sponsorship was announced by Lucozade producers GlaxoSmithKline.
This season’s edition will see the winners take away $30,000, while the runners-up will win $10,000. An incentive prize of $3,000 is also offered for every goal scored in the final; $2,000 for every goal scored in the semi-final, and $1,000 for every goal scored in the quarter-final round.
“May the 2014 Lucozade Sport Goal Shield tournament will be as competitive and as successful as it has been since inception (in 2009),” stated Nicole Stroude-Sandiford of the marketing division of GlaxoSmithKline at the launch.