Central FC are perfect at the top of the Digicel Pro League 2016-2017 standings after four matches, sitting three points ahead of the pack as the Couva Sharkschase a third consecutive league crowning.
But Keith Jeffrey, coach of second-positioned San Juan Jabloteh (9 points), predicts the 2016-2017 season – shortened (Sep. 2016 – Feb. 2017) to facilitate reverting to the old April to December format in 2017 – will be one of the most competitive league title challenges in the history of the Pro League.
Speaking after his team’s narrow 1-0 win over visiting Ma Pau Stars last Sun-Fun-Day, the Jabloteh coach also pointed out, “Looking at the weekend results (Club Sando 3-2 Defence Force; St. Ann’s Rangers 2-0 Police FC), anything can happen in the league.”
The season is still young but results such as Police FC’s 5-1 win over Ma Pau Stars, St. Ann’s Rangers’ 2-0 wins over Defence Force and Police FC, and Club Sando’s 3-2 win over Defence Force adds steel to Jeffrey’s predictions.
On Tuesday, though, Central, led by coach Dale Saunders who is assisted by ex-Trinidad and Tobago forward Stern John, maintained their 100 percent league form with a 2-1 win over a stubborn Morvant Caledonia United challenge, while W Connection, multiple-time former champions, showed no mercy against cellar-placed Point Fortin Civic, trashing the southerners 7-0.
However former W Connection and St. Lucia forward Earl Jean, who serves as an assistant coach to his fellow countryman and longstanding Connection coach, Stuart Charles-Fevrier, echoed Jeffrey’s feelings.
“This will be a good season for people who enjoy football,” said Jean, who, during his playing career, had stints in Portugal, England and China. “The league is very competitive and it has been growing this way since last year. We will continue to see some very interesting results, some of them shocking. Nothing is lost yet, with everything still to play for.”
This season’s abbreviated format will feature just two Rounds of league action (18 games per team), and just the First Citizens Cup and Digicel Pro Bowl knockout titles to compete for.
However Jean dismisses the assumption that the changes for 2016-2017 PL calendar will take the sting out of competition. “Every team wants to enjoy this season,” he said. “It is shorter, yes, and changes are in. But it will be exciting for everyone.”
On Connection’s thumping of Civic, Jean credited, in part, the performance to his team’s involvement in the just concluded 2016-2017 CONCACAF Champions League group stage in which Central were also a part of, having both qualified out of the 2016 Caribbean Club Championship.
“Of course, playing at that (Concacaf) level give us an edge back home,” he said. “We are always grateful for the experience and playing against the best players in Concacaf. It give us added motivation to do well in our (domestic) league. So it was good to come back and setting our foot down [with such a result and performance against Civic].
But like two-time reigning Caribbean champions Central, Connection finished bottom of their CCL group, bowing out on a disappointing 8-1 loss last week in Mexico City against Pumas UNAM.
“I don’t think they (Pumas) were seven goals better than us,” said Jean, whose side were at a huge disadvantage playing on Pumas’ Estadio Olimpico Universitario home turf situated over 2000 metres above sea level. “The altitude had a lot to do with the result up there. We had a couple of our players bleeding from the nose while everyone had difficulty breathing.”
Connection and Central were both at early disadvantage, beginning CCL play in the off-season of the Pro League and against top Concacaf teams well into their respective domestic seasons. This is one disadvantage the PL will eliminate by reverting to the old April to December format.
Jean also credited his players, most of whom needed a couple days rest after the Mexico nightmare, for their focus and dedication in Tuesday’s win over Civic, especially during a period he described “devastating” for the club. The club had lost its former team administrator Raymond Mc Lean who passed away a week earlier, and on Saturday, there was the news out of St. Lucia on the passing of Patrick Newton Fevrier, father of technical director/head coach Stuart Charles-Fevrier.
Connection and Central will both return to play on Friday against Defence Force and Ma Pau Stars, respectively, in the first of two Round One Match Day Five double-headers on the weekend at the Mahaica Oval, which will come alive again on Sunday when Club Sando face Morvant Caledonia, and hosts Point Fortin Civic entertain St. Ann’s Rangers.
Round One Match Day Five will culminate on Tuesday at the Ato Boldon Stadium with Police FC against Jabloteh, who will welcome back into the fold talented 18-year-old left full-back Keston Julien from duty with the Trinidad and Tobago Under-20 team.
Julien, a former W Connection player, is one of the talents to watch this season along with new Connection signing, enterprising 20-year-old Penal-born attacker Daniel Diaz, with two goals already to his name from two appearances.
Connection attacker Neil Benjamin Jr., who netted a hat-trick against Civic, joined regular standouts Marcus Joseph (Central FC) and Willis Plaza (San Juan Jabloteh) on three goals. Above the trio and leading the PL scoring chart this season is Central FC’s Tobago-born midfielder Darren Mitchell with four goals.
Connection are third on the standings but tied on 7 points with fourth-positioned St. Ann’s Rangers, who have enjoyed their best start in recent years with two wins, one draw and a loss under returning coach Anthony Streete.
Upcoming fixtures
Digicel Pro League 2016/17
Round One Match Day Five
(Friday Oct. 28, 2016)
Mahaica Oval, Point Fortin
W Connection vs Defence Force—6pm
Central FC vs Ma Pau Stars—8pm
(Sunday Oct. 30, 2016)
Mahaica Oval, Point Fortin
Club Sando vs Morvant Caledonia United—4pm
Point Fortin Civic vs St. Ann’s Rangers—6:30pm
(Tuesday Nov. 1, 2016)
Ato Boldon Stadium
Police FC vs San Juan Jabloteh—6pm