Central Football Association FA Trophy third placed finisher, Caroni Samba was handed a spot in the round-of-16 of the T&T Football Federation FA Trophy competition.
This after its scheduled opponent for tomorrow’s round-of-32 matches, at Gilbert Park, Couva , Tobago Football Association’s, Stokely Vale forfeited due to financial reasons. Contacted for comment, Ruth Campbell, manager of the TFA club confirmed it was costing the club too much to participate in the prestigious competition.
Campbell said: “As you know we are an unsponsored club and we really cannot afford at this time to finance the team’s accommodation and travel to Trinidad for the match.”
As a result, Caroni Samba became the first team to reach the last-16 of the competition which continues with matches tomorrow with seven matches.
Reigning FA Trophy holder and three-time winner, Adam’s Construction Ltd San Juan Jabloteh kicks off its defence against El Dorado East Secondary, nick-named the “Blue Thunder” on Sunday (February 5) at the Larry Gomes Stadium, Malabar, from 5 pm.
Two Pro League clubs have already been in action, Defence Force and Neal & Massy Caledonia AIA with success. Defence Force survived a scare in a 3-2 win over National League and Inter-Col and North Zone League and Inter-Col Secondary Schools Football League champions, St Anthony’s College while Caledonia whipped Southern Football Association’s Uprising Youths 4-1, both in round one qualifiers.
Last year, Jabloteh registered its third lien on the trophy via 1-0 win over fellow Digicel T&T Pro League club, DirecTV North East Stars with Kennedy Hinkson the scorer to land the $80,000 winner’s prize.
Fixtures Round Two Tomorrow
Scarborough Sec (SSFL) vs 1976 Phoenix (TFA), Dwight Yorke Stadium, Bacolet, 4 pm
1976 Phoenix (Super League) vs Club Sando (Super League), Dwight Yorke Stadium, Bacolet, 6 pm.
Guaya United FC (ECFU) vs Harlem Strikers (CFA), La Savan, New Lands, 3.30 pm
Joe Public (Super League) vs St Clair CS, Marvin Lee Stadium, Macoya, 3.30 pm
Carapichiama East Sec (SSFL) vs OJ Soldado All Stars (SFA), Carapichaima East Sec Grd, 3.30 pm
T&TEC (SFA) vs Clint Marcelle FA (NFA), Palo Seco Rec Grd, 5 pm
St Francois Nationals vs T&TEC (Pro League), New Grd, QP Savannah, 3.30 pm
Sunday
El Dorado Sec (SSFL) vs San Juan Jabloteh, Larry Gomes Stadium, Malabar, 3.30 pm
NE Stars (Pro League) vs Dathea FA (NFA), Marvin Lee Stadium, Macoya, 3.30 pm
W Connection (Pro League) vs KC Perseverance (CFA), Ato Boldon Stadium, Couva, 3.30 pm
Police (Pro League) vs Youth Stars (TFA), Palo Seco Rec, Grd, 5 pm
Mafeking United (ECFU) vs Defence Force (Pro League), Mafeking Rec. Grd, Mafeking, 3.30 pm