“Come out and watch us play, we have more good things to show,” promised W Connection captain Hughtun Hector ahead of Tuesday’s First Citizens Cup Group B clash against DIRECTV North East Stars from 7pm at the Hasely Crawford Stadium.
Hector oozed confidence following his team’s 4-2 victory against Caledonia AIA on Friday night, in which he scored a double and teenaged strikers Shahdon Winchester and Jerrel Britto also got on the scoresheet.
Hector continued, “It’s a game that we have to come out more aggressive than against Caledonia, because they (North East Stars) are a more aggressive team and we definitely have to work hard.”
“We have a special bunch and we will take it one game at a time,” said assistant coach Earl Jean, a former striker, captain and multiple First Citizen Cup winner.
“We’re not taking any chances. We need to get a point from our next game so that we can be safe (into the semi-final round).
“It’s about carrying out the instructions that the technical director will be passing on to them. What is good for us is that Hector, Britto and Shahdon all scored and that shows a good sign for the club with the work we have done in the week.
He added, “We know that North East Stars have a really experienced team and we don’t know if they will be bringing Stern John but we believe in ourselves and we saw that by playing a lot of young players.”
Not only did Connection impress spectators with the 4-2 end result, but also a starting line-up that included a host of young players in teenagers Jomol Williams, Shahdon Winchester and Jerrel Britto, U-23 players Joevin Jones, Keron Cummings, Andre Quashie, Akeem Benjamin, Mekeil Williams with Hector, Kern Cupid and goalkeeper Aquilius Sylvester the only three seasoned players.
“It was a hard fought victory for Connection,” explained Hector. “I knew I had to come out and put my best. It was a better performance than against Rangers (in our previous game on Saturday 10 September in the Digicel Pro League Championship).”
“I think the technical director (Stuart Charles Fevrier) is very pleased with what he saw and it augurs well for a team with so many young players,” said Jean.
“We have made so many changes at the club and we want to bring in a trophy as earl as possible especially for the president (David John Williams) who have sacrificed so much.”
Hector further explained that its time to take home the First Citizens Cup a seventh time having missed out in the past two years.
“It’s time for us to win it again because it seems a long time we haven’t won it,” he said.
“It’s a Cup that I love to win. I think I won MVP twice in the First Citizens Cup and I think that I always try my best to win it for Connection and we have done it six times.”
Also on Tuesday T&TEC FC coming off a 0-0 draw against St. Ann’s Rangers in Group A action last Friday, will meet Adam’s Construction San Juan Jabloteh from 5pm at the Hasely Crawford Stadium.
2011 First Citizens Cup
Quarterfinal Day One results
Friday 16 September
Hasely Crawford Stadium
T&TEC FC 0—0 St. Ann’s Rangers
W Connection 4—2 Caledonia AIA
Quarterfinal Day Two Fixtures
Tuesday 20 September
Hasely Crawford Stadium
T&TEC FC vs San Juan Jabloteh—5pm
Connection vs North East Stars—7pm
Quarterfinal Day Three
Friday 23 September
Hasely Crawford Stadium
St. Ann’s Rangers vs San Juan Jabloteh—5pm
Caledonia AIA vs North East Stars—7pm
Semi Final Round
Friday 30 September
Final
Friday 14 October