For defending champions W Connection, it’s just another day at the office when the “Savonnetta Boys” take on Police FC from 8 pm on Friday at the Hasely Crawford Stadium in the Final of the 2014 Digicel Pro Bowl.
The recently crowned 2013-2014 Digicel Pro League champions, and Digicel Charity Shield, Toyota Classic and FA Trophy winners are after their fourth major title and fifth overall this season, and the $100,000 winner takes all prize.
But for the unfamiliar finalist, Police FC, winning the title would be a second giant step for coach Richard Hood’s side after securing the club a top flight Final for the first time in 18 years.
It was back in 1996 that Police reached the Final of the FA Trophy and were defeated by Defence Force, and two years earlier, 1994, the “Lawmen” had completed a double with the National League and FA Trophy titles.
Now 20 years later, from that successful season 1994 season, Police are into a Final, but against a side that has defeated them in all three league clashes this season, including a 6-1 Round Three hammering in April.
“It’s going to be a tough game for us, for a number of reasons, including they have defeated us all season,” said Hood.
“But other than the 6-1 defeat our [0-1 defeat in Round One and 1-2 defeat in Round Two] were tight games.
“We are aware of the threats they (W Connection) pose; their strengths in certain areas of the pitch and their use of midfielder Joevin Jones. But once we control those areas and neutralise them, then our chances are fair.”
Hood said that it has been the plan of Police FC to finish the season on a high, all for the future of the Police football programme.
“The attitudes of the players are good at this stage. We had a period of around three weeks where we were able to put in some good work, because we wanted to finish the season on a high. And on Friday we want to win the (Final) for the future of the programme.
“We have to show our seniors that with the right support, we can do much better. So I would say that we have a lot of motivation to win on Friday night,” said the Police coach.
Police's journey to the Final included defeating San Juan Jabloteh in the quarterfinal round and Defence Force in the semi-final round, both with 4-2 wins.
Police forward Jameel Perry, leads the tournament goal scorers with 5 goals, after grabbing a hat-trick against Jabloteh and scoring twice against Defence Force. His brother Kareem Perry also picked up a double against the army/coastguard combination but misses the final through suspension.
Kareem was ejected on a second yellow card by referee Cecil Hinds in stoppage time for time delaying tactics.
“It’s a blow to the team,” admitted Hood. “It was a ridiculous sending off at that stage of the game. Now we have to go on without him although we have a couple options with Christon Thomas (who only recently returned to the team) and so on.”
Connection, still without the injured Dimitrie Apai (knee), scorer of a hat-trick against Police in the 6-1 league win, is also without the services of defender Daneil Cyrus.
Cyrus, who missed the semi-final round, has signed a one and a half season deal with Vietnam League 1 outfit Hanoi T&T this week which keeps him at the East Asia club until near the end of 2015.
But it’s business as usual for the three-time (2004, 2007 & 2013) Pro Bowl winners, W Connection.
“We are being paid to play the sport and that’s one of the reasons we take every game seriously and professionally,” said Connection head coach Stuart Charles-Fevrier. “We always want to always win.”
Fevrier, who guided his team to a 3-1 over Caledonia AIA in the quarterfinal round and a 4-2 penalty win over bitter Couva rivals Central FC in the semi-final round following a 1-1 draw, isn’t taking Police lightly.
“Police have showed big improvement this season and must not be taken lightly,” said the longstanding successful Connection coach. “They (Police) defeated Jabloteh and Defence Force to reach the Final. When you reach a final … you have earned it. And they have definitely earned it.”
Despite having a one hundred percent record against the “Lawmen” this season, Fevrier added, “Over the years we definitely had a good record against them. But they have beaten us also and football is on the day of the game. I watched them against Defence Force and they played a really good game.”
Digicel Pro Bowl 2014 Final
Friday 23 May
W Connection vs Police FC—8 pm, Hasely Crawford Stadium
Grudge Match
Referees vs Coaches—7 pm