Take That and Cool It manager Sherwin ‘Pigeon’ Joseph has guaranteed victory on Saturday when his team comes up against Boys Town in the Caribbean Welders Fishing Pond final at the Fishing Pond Recreation Ground.
With a $30,000 first prize up for grabs, the final is expected to be a cracker with both teams fielding star-studded line-ups. Kick-off time is at 3.15pm. The third/fourth playoff gets underway at 1pm.
Speaking to Newsday yesterday, an extremely confident ‘Pigeon’ said: “Cool It’s chances are 100 percent. We guarantee the public of Trinidad and Tobago an easy victory. It’s easy because of the calibre of players we have. It’s so easy we not even studying about this game, we’re studying about next year!”
‘Pigeon’ said he sees no similarities to their winning campaign last year as this season “we have a complete all-round team.”
Asked how his team will neutralise the threat of Boys Town forward Dorean ‘Bunny’ Robinson who notched a double in the quarterfinal and is one of the most prolific forwards in the league’s history, Pigeon was unimpressed.
“Bunny does only play when is small team. When they meet good opposition, them standard does drop, it does be poor. We have no fear of Bunny. We’re going to reach very early, relax, and have a nice team talk.”
His opposition on the sidelines, Darryl ‘Blem’ Miranda, manager of 2012 winners Boys Town, is looking forward to claiming victory after coming up short in the 2013 and 2016 finals. Miranda said he has reinforced his squad and feels they can lift the trophy this year.
“I made a two or three signings who could be able to make the difference this year. We have to bring it home this year,” he said.
‘Blem’ acknowledged Take That and Cool It are formidable rivals but said his team possesses many weapons all over the pitch.
“I coming up against a strong side with good players but I have a good squad too, so I will say the contest evenly matched up. I just have to talk to my fellas, programme them good before the game and reach up early. It’s time to bring it back home. I coming with everybody,” he said.
Miranda hailed the defensive solidity of Boys Town and said “Cool It” will have to come really good to get through their back-line and when they do, their goalkeeper will be there waiting to repel all their shots.