“It’s all about taking the League by storm,” said top T&TEC FC striker Kevon Neaves on Monday in anticipation of the 2011-2012 Digicel Pro League Championship which kicks off this weekend.
T&TEC, this season’s debutants, will meet former League Champions and last season’s Lucozade Sport Goal Shield champs DIRECTV North East Stars from 5pm at the Marvin Lee Stadium on Friday in the first clash of a Round One Match Day One double header at the Macoya venue.
“I know they(North East Stars) are a well organized team,” said the 25 yearold Neaves who top scored in the Super League last season.
“I know (Stars’ CEO) Brent Sancho personally and he likes to have things well organized. So I’m sure they would have a very organized and very fit bunch of guys.”
T&TEC had a taste of North East Stars in last season’s Toyota Classic Round of 16 and suffered a slim 1-0 defeat against the Sangre Grande club at the Hasely Crawford Stadium.
However that’s behind the “Electricity Boys” according to Neaves as they look forward to making a smooth transition from Super League to the Pro League.
“We are not going to give them (North East Stars) any verbal heads up,” said Neaves who was instrumental in guiding T&TEC to the Super League and Knockout titles last season. “On the day we are going to let the football speak.
“We are obviously looking for a good start with a victory,” he continued. “It would be a good boost in confidence for us if we get full points.”
“We have been anticipating the start for quite some time now, so we are happy to actually get the ball rolling.
“We have been excited a long time and we just want to step up and make that transition from Super League to Pro League.”
Head coach Dexter Cyrus, pleased with his pre-season work and acquisitions said that club is more than ready.
“I think honestly we can match any team in Trinidad and Tobago in any part of the field,” Cyrus said.
“Our guys were up for it (entering the Pro League) since last season, and that’s part of us winning the Super League unbeaten. So this season will just be more or less of a mental transition at the Pro League level.
“We had enough time to prepare. We started preparations a month earlier to get in the right amount of sessions and the blend of youth and experience in our squad is just right.”
Former England based and Trinidad and Tobago World Cup goalkeeper Clayton Ince who guided Ma Pau SC to the Toyota Classic trophy last season, has been T&TEC’s biggest pre-season acquisition.
The also signed on strike squad member Clayton Morris as Technical Director.
In other Round One Match Day One 2011-2012 Digicel Pro League Championship clashes, Caledonia AIA and Defence Force are expected to meet from 7pm at the Marvin Lee Stadium on Friday night, and on Saturday the Ato Boldon Stadium will host a double header with Police FC against Adam’s Construction San Juan Jabloteh from 5pm and W Connection against St. Ann’s Rangers from 7pm.