Jerren Nixon has been told to rest for at least six weeks or risk ending his playing career prematurely.
As a result, last season's T&T Pro League top-scorer is unavailable to play for defending champions National Quarries North East Stars in today's key clash with CL Financial San Juan Jabloteh from 4 p.m. at the Sangre Grande Recreation Ground.
Nixon is reported to be suffering a knee injury which has restricted his mobility.
In 2004, Nixon scored a record 33 goals in the Pro League and has been particularly effective against Jabloteh, scoring a brace when the Sangre Grande-based Stars won 2-1 and also from the penalty spot as they triumphed 3-1 late last season to cement their first Pro League title.
Club owner Darryl Mahabir said Nixon's loss is a big loss for his team, which has not performed as well as he had expected to date.
He believes his players were not prepared to be the team to beat this season and, as a result, they have had a relatively mediocre start to the 2005 campaign, in which they have lost two of the four matches they have played. "The team has not started the way we would have expected and I would definitely hope for some improvement," said Mahabir yesterday.
"People say that it is much easier to hunt, than to be hunted. We just weren't ready to be hunted," he suggested, adding that today's match is another in which they will be hunted by a Jabloteh team which they have had the better of lately.
Nixon's loss, though, has an even greater effect as Stars cannot boost their squad by bringing in any new players until the transfer window opens up in August.
In today's other matches, front-runners Vibe CT105 W Connection can finish the first round unbeaten when they take on bottom team Tobago United at the Manny Ramjohn Stadium, Marabella, while United Petrotrin and Caledonia AIA/Fire clash at Palo Seco.
T&T PRO LEAGUE RESULTS:
UNDER-16
CL Financial San Juan Jabloteh 3 (Franz Husbands - 11', 67'; Quian Grovesnor - 37') Defence Force 0
Vibe CT 105 W. Connection 5 (Zerronn Forte - 30', Shervonne Fredericks - 38', 65', 80'; Marvin Manswell - 51') United Petrotrin 0
Tobago United 1 (Quinton Williams - 74th) Caledonia AIA/Fire 2 (Chuvalos George - 32'); Jared Bartholomew -44th).
UNDER-18
CL Financial San Juan Jabloteh 1 (Johnson Romaine- 19') Defence Force 0
Vibe CT 105 W. Connection 2 (Kendell Penny - 13', Matthew Bartholomew -68' ) United Petrotrin 1
Tobago United 2 (Stephen St Louis -24th; Keith Williams - 50' penalty) Caledonia AIA/Fire 0.
T&T PRO LEAGUE FIXTURES:
TODAY
SENIORS (ALL MATCHES 4 p.m.)-NATIONAL QUARRIES NORTH EAST STARS v CL FINANCIAL SAN JUAN JABLOTEH, SANGRE GRANDE RECREATION GROUND; UNITED PETROTRIN v CALEDONIA AIA/FIRE, PALO SECO RECREATION GROUND; VIBE CT 105 W CONNECTION v TOBAGO UNITED, MANNY RAMJOHN STADIUM.
UNDER-18: (ALL MATCHES 2 p.m.) - NATIONAL QUARRIES NORTH EAST STARS v CL FINANCIAL SAN JUAN JABLOTEH, SANGRE GRANDE RECREATION GROUND ; UNITED PETROTRIN v CALEDONIA AIA/FIRE, PALO SECO RECREATION GROUND; VIBE CT 105 W CONNECTION v TOBAGO UNITED, MANNY RAMJOHN STADIUM.
UNDER-16 (ALL MATCHES 9 a.m.)-NATIONAL QUARRIES NORTH EAST STARS v CL FINANCIAL SAN JUAN JABLOTEH, SANGRE GRANDE RECREATION GROUND; UNITED PETROTRIN v CALEDONIA AIA/FIRE, PALO SECO RECREATION GROUND; VIBE CT 105 W CONNECTION V TOBAGO UNITED, MANNY RAMJOHN. STADIUM.
PRO LEAGUE TOP GOAL SCORERS: 6-Gefferson Goulart (W Connection); 4-Andre Toussaint (W Connection); 3-Josh Johnson (San Juan Jabloteh), Kennedy Hinkson (United Petrotrin), Earl Jean (W Connection); 2-Devon Modeste (Caledonia AIA Fire); Odelle Armstrong (Defence Force); Noel Williams (Tobago United), Ashford Leggerton (Tobago United).