AS club champions of Trinidad and Tobago, the greatest testimony National Quarries North East Stars could have made as to the quality of football in the T&T Pro League was when they beat Dutchman Leo Beenhakker's senior national team 2-0 on Tuesday in a training match at the Hasely Crawford Stadium.
Probably anticipating the upset, Sangre Grande-based Stars came to Port of Spain with a big, noisy crowd, including last year's Pro League top-scorer Jerren Nixon and his wife Kathy-Ann, who were among the celebrating Grande posse shouting: "Is we going to Germany, is we going to Germany," on the field after the match.
Their celebrations prompted coach Beenhakker to remark that beating the national team was almost like winning the World Cup for North East Stars.
Tonight, Pro League champs Stars are expected to take another large following to the Manny Ramjohn Stadium, Marabella, for their meeting in the "Big Match" of the T&T Pro Bowl quarter-final triple-header.
Teams will be vying for a guaranteed $30,000 first prize and the prestigious T&T Pro Bowl in what is a winners-take-all competition.
And for a $20 entrance fee to the covered stands and $10 to the uncovered terraces, football fans get to see the top six professional teams in the country in three matches.
Spectators will also be treated to entertainment from Soca artist Maximus Dan, Kees Dieffenthaller, Lil Bits, Mr Slaughter (formerly Doug E Slaughter), and X-Caliber Crew. And lucky fans holding valid entry tickets will be treated to hamper give-aways from Seven Seas, National Flour Mills, KFC and Courts, while Sports and Games will also provide a $500 voucher to a spectator.
The biggest incentives come at half-time when fans get the chance to kick a penalty and walk away with $1,000 on the spot courtesy Oscar Francois Limited. Also, anyone wearing a jersey supporting their team gets $5 off the entry fee.
On the field, newcomers United Petrotrin face a rejuvenated Defence Force at 4.45 p.m. in the opening match; Stars meet Vibe CT105 W. Connection from 7 p.m.; and at 9.15, CL Financial San Juan Jabloteh tackle Caledonia AIA/Fire in the third game. However, by far the biggest draw is the clash between defending Pro Bowl champions W. Connection and North East Stars.
In 2004, Connection were runners-up to Stars in the league competition, but took the two other big competitions-the Pro Bowl and the FCB Cup. This year, Connection are the big guns and have beaten everyone they have met, including Stars, who they humbled 4-0 early in the league campaign.
Tonight, there will be no holding back by any of the teams, who know there is a bumper prize at stake and only the winners can get any of it.
T&T PRO BOWL
QUARTER-FINALS
Manny Ramjohn Stadium, Marabella
4.45 p.m.-United Petrotrin v Defence Force.
7 p.m.-National Quarries North East Stars v Vibe CT 105 W. Connection.
9.15 p.m.-CL Financial San Juan Jabloteh v Caledonia AIA/Fire