Reigning Digicel Pro League champion W Connection will begin defence of the league crown today when the “Savonnetta Boys” meet North East Stars, from 6 pm, at the Ato Boldon Stadium in Round One Match Day Three.
“It’s about time and we are just happy to start,” said W Connection head coach Stuart Charles-Fevrier.
Connection sat out on the bye in Round One Match Day One, nearly a month ago, before its Round One Match Day Two fixture against rival and last season’s runner-up Central FC was postponed.
“We have been training and training and it has been frustrating for us watching the other teams compete in the league before we could start our defence,” continued the Connection coach.
“But we are definitely prepared. It doesn’t really matter who we are against on Tuesday because to win the league again we will have accumulate the most points. It does not matter whichever team we are against first or last.
What is important is that we get the better of whichever team we are against at any point in time,” said Charles-Fevrier, who led his side to five titles (League, FA Trophy, Toyota Classic, Lucozade Sport Goal Shield, Digicel Pro Bowl and Digicel Charity Shield) last season.
The 2013-2014 league champion is a 2-0 shock defeat against San Juan Jabloteh, on Friday, in the quarter-final round of the First Citizens Cup—a tournament it won six times, and the only other competitive match this season was a month ago (September 20) when coach Stuart Charles-Fevrier’s men edged rivals Central FC 1-0 to successfully defended their Charity Shield and maintain the honour for a third consecutive time.
“It was a disappointing night for us (last Friday),” explained Charles-Fevrier, over his team’s First Citizens Cup defeat against Jabloteh. “We played quality football but we made far too many mistakes at critical times and that was part of the reason for the defeat.”
He added,:“All credit to Jabloteh. They stood to their plan and dug deep. They also rode their luck when it came their way and it was a good victory for them.”
Jabloteh, unbeaten to date this season currently occupy second position on the 2014-2015 league standings. The club will also be in action on Tuesday in Round One Match Day Three action against Point Fortin Civic from 6 pm at the Marvin Lee Stadium, Macoya, followed by St Rangers’ clash with Police FC from 8 pm at the same venue, in a rematch of their First Citizens Cup quarter-final clash. And following the Connection-North East Stars clash from 6 pm at the Ato Boldon Stadium, rivals Central will welcome Caledonia AIA from 8 pm.
Tuesday’s league matches will also serve four teams the opportunity to sharpen up ahead of Friday’s (24 October) First Citizens Cup semi-final round at the Ato Boldon Stadium when Police FC go up against defending champion Central FC from 6 pm and North East Stars against two-time winners San Juan Jabloteh from 8.15 pm in chase of a place in the Final on Friday 31 October towards the title and $100,000 winners’ prize.
TT Pro League Fixtures - Today
Marvin Lee Stadium
San Juan Jabloteh v Point Fortin Civic, 6pm
St Ann’s Rangers v Police FC, 8 pm
Ato Boldon Stadium
W Connection v North East Stars, 6 pm
Central FC v Caledonia AIA, 8 pm