Despite the loss of key players to National duty, St Augustine Senior Secondary will be looking to surmount a tough challenge in the form of defending National Intercol champions, St Anthony's College to book a place in the final when the teams meet in the first match of a double-head.er at the Hasely Crawford Stadium this afternoon from 4 p.m.
Although the Green Machine-who are yet to be beaten this season-will be looking for the sweep this year, having secured both East Zone League and Intercol crowns, as well as National "Big Five" honours, they will have to do so with out the services of main strikers Shastri Spencer and Shane Calderon, as well as Devon Maxwell. Spencer is in training with the National Under-17 team for their match-up against their Cuban counterparts, while both Calderon and Maxwell are with the National Under-20s preparing to host the same opponents tomorrow.
The "Tigers" of Westmoorings are expected to give St Augustine quite a battle, but they will be without some of their main players in Under-20 player Kwesi Thomas and striker Lester Peltier, left-back Brendon Boucaud, reserve goalkeeper Kevin Mussio, all of the National Under-17 squad, plus coach Nigel Grovesnor, who is also coach of the under-17s.
St Anthony's have had a tougher time of getting to the Intercol semis, losing the North Zone final in extra time to Mucurapo Senior Comprehensive, but have since bounced back with an emphatic 6-0 victory over Fyzabad in the quarter-finals.
St Augustine will have the edge, though, not having lost for the season, their last victory being a 4-0 whipping of Central champs Presentation College.
The second fixture promises to be an interesting game as well, with Mucurapo coming up against Vessigny Secondary, who have surprised most in reaching so far this season.
The South Zone runners-up-who finished the South league with the threat of relegation looming-pipped Scarborough Secondary 2-1 last week to reach the semi-finals, after disposing of South giants Princes Town Senior Comprehensive and St Benedict's College in successive outings.
The North Zone opponents will also be missing key players in their line-up, such as regular goalkeeper Nigel Thomas and defender Khaleem Highland (Under-17), as well as midfielder Antullah Guerra.
But Mucurapo will be far from walkovers, having lost just twice this season, including their Big Five semi against the East Zone champs on penalties, and have gotten past the Tigers in all three meetings this season.
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