East Zone league runners-up, El Dorado East will be hoping to repeat its 2-1 win over St Mary’s in 2007 when the two teams meet once again in semifinal action of the 2009 Coca-Cola National InterCol today at Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo, from 4 pm.
A win for “Blue Thunder” will definitely be a boost and bring some positive news to the school after some of its students were involved in gang activities with students of El Dorado West school last week. Head coach of the “Blue Thunder,” Trevor Spicer said that despite all that is taking place, his troops are focused on the job at hand.
“While the teams are evenly matched, my guys will have the edge due to their fighting spirit,” stated Spicer. El Do, after taking an early lead in the quarterfinal against South Zone champion Presentation, had to come from behind to send the match into penalty kicks where it won 4-3.
This is the second time in two years that the East Zone team has reached the semifinals of the tournament. St Mary’s, on the other hand, will be looking to reverse the tables this time round, as it goes in search of its first national InterCol title since 1968. Coach Jason Edwards, like Spicer, feels that it will be a good contest.
“The teams know each other well, we have played them during the pre-season and we know their strengths and weaknesses, as well as they know ours. Both teams have a good core of talented players, but I feel at the end of the match we will be the winners.” CIC, which won the North zone league title after 23 years in the doldrums, advanced by hammering Tobago champion Mason Hall 6-1.
The second semifinal between defending champion Naparima and St Augustine will take place at the Mannie Ramjohn Stadium, Marabella, on Thursday, from 4 pm. Naps got past Queen’s Royal College 3-0, while the “Green Machine” out played Carapichaima by the same margin.
17