DIRECTV W Connection Head Coach Stuart Charles Fevrier admits that it won’t be an easy season for the defending Digicel Pro Bowl Champions.
He said, “This year is going to be very tough for us. We are starting from zero again in trying to do well at [domestic and regional levels] and defend our title as well as trying to do business in the selling players.”
Connection, winners of the Digicel Charity Sheild back in September, kicks off its League title defense on Friday from 8pm at the Mannie Ramjohn Stadium against recently crowned 2012 First Citizens Cup champions and reigning Caribbean Club champions, Caledonia AIA in Round One Match Day Two.
And two hours earlier (6pm) at the same Marabella venue, League debutants Central FC, which suffered a 3-0 defeat against Defence Force in the quarter-final round of the First Citizens Cup, will take on Police FC.
The Lawmen were in winners’ row back in Match Day One defeating T&TEC FC 2-0 and after a goalless draw against Connection in the FCC quarters, fell to defeat in the penalty shootout.
“Obviously we want to have a good start,” continued the Connection coach. “We are the defending League champions.”
It was Connection that Caledonia defeated 4-3 on penalties following a 1-1 draw in the Final of the CFU Club Championship to take the title earlier this year, and again defeated the Couva based club in the semi-final round of the FCC by a slim 1-0 margin advancing into the Final and eventually defending the title.
“Caledonia is always interesting for us,” said Fevrier. “They play a similar style to us and we look forward to another interesting contest.”
However Fevrier’s team preparation, along with a number of other coaches this week, was dampened by grounded flights of Trinidad and Tobago Men’s National Senior Team following the Caribbean Cup first round matches in Basseterre, St Kitts/Nevis.
Caledonia striker Jamal Gay, North East Stars defenders Seon Power and Kareem Moses and Central FC goalie Marvin Phillip returned to Trinidad on Monday following T&T’s 10-0 final Group 5 win over Anguilla on Sunday.
While Connection quartet of Clyde Leon, Joevin Jones, Daniel Cyrus and goalkeeper Jan Michael Williams are among Defence Force’s Curtis Gonzales, Kevon Carter, Devorn Jorsling and Richard Roy, and Caledonia’s Densill Theobald were among others awaiting flights.
“All of our players Clyde Leon, Joevin Jones, Jan Michael Williams, and Daniel Cyrus weren’t with us this week for preparations [ahead of Friday’s League match]. And they are some of our most experienced players.”
Nevertheless the Match Day Two action continues this weekend at the Hasely Crawford Stadium with St. Ann’s Rangers hosting T&TEC FC from 5pm and Defence Force against leaders North East Stars.
Rangers were beaten 2-1 in Match Day One by Defence Force and just as T&TEC are hoping to land points on the table. Meantime the Soldiers are attempting to shake off the 2-1 defeat against Caledonia in the FFC Final.