THE 2014-2015 Digicel Pro League will resume on the weekend, and moreso, the race to the inaugural Round One – Rawle Fletcher Trophy and $35,000 in tow.
Leaders Central FC, just one point ahead of the pack and with one match remaining against Point Fortin Civic on Sunday from 5 pm at the Ato Boldon Stadium, Couva to complete their Round One fixtures, have tallied 14 points from seven matches.
Meanwhile defending league champions DIRECTV W Connection stand within an excellent chance of hurdling their town-rivals for the title, boasting 13 points and with matches against Caledonia AIA (on Sunday from 7 pm at the Ato Boldon Stadium) and San Juan Jabloteh to complete their Round One matches.
However it can be an uphill task on Sunday for W Connection coach Stuart Charles-Fevrier, minus a total of 11 players from his roster, against Caledonia AIA, who, as it stands, are within a mathematical chance at the title. But Caledonia, with 11 points from six matches, also have difficulty ahead.
AIA will wrap up Round One Match Day Eight against Connection from 7 pm at the Couva venue on Sunday but must face probably their trickiest opponents, North East Stars, on the final match-day of the round.
The weekend action kicks off tomorrow, following the Christmas break, with a double-header at the Marvin Lee Stadium in Macoya.
North East Stars will take on cellar-placed St Ann’s Rangers from 5 pm followed by Defence Force against recently crowned Toyota Classic champions Play Whe San Juan Jabloteh from 7 pm, while fourth-placed Police are on the bye.
On December 18, with a comprehensive 6-1 hammering of Police in Round One Match Day Seven, Connection stated their intentions for the Rawle Fletcher Trophy, which was introduced this season along with the Round Two – Akeem Adams Trophy and the Round Three – Kevon Carter Trophy in memory of the fallen players while increasing the competitiveness of the League structure.
Charles-Fevrier has his sights set on the Rawle Fletcher Trophy, despite missing defender Kurt Frederick and forward Keon Boucher (illness); forward Jerrel Britto (suspension); midfielder Gerard Williams and goalkeeper Julani Archibald (Major League Soccer combine trials in Miami and Puerto Rico respectively); Shannon Gomez, Martieon Watson, Maurice Ford, Aikim Andrews, Akeem Garcia and Jabari Mitchell (with the Trinidad and Tobago Under-20 team).
“We definitely want the (Rawle Fletcher) trophy,” said the longstanding W Connection coach. “We are a club, and I am a football person, that love to win. I’m a fierce competitor but I never preached winning at all cost. I love to win but I do everything legally possible to win and by playing quality football. That’s what I preach.
“Every competition, every match, the objective is to win. We always want to win and that is the spirit I have as a football person and I try to transfer that to the guys I work with.” However he admitted it wouldn’t be an easy task on Sunday against Caledonia, adding, “I know it will be challenging in squad selection because I’m not sure we will even have an 18-man squad.