St Augustine Secondary have had it all their way since they clinched the Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) title in October. But today, their sternest test of the season awaits in the form of Naparima College in the second Coca Cola InterCol semi-final at the Manny Ramjohn Stadium, Marabella, from 4.30 p.m.
The ’Green Machine’, through coach Michael Grayson, announced very early this season their desire to roll over all opposition on their way to a sweep of titles this year. And aside from some keen resistance from Arima North Secondary, the only team to beat them this season, none of their opponents have provided enough of a challenge to stall them.
Arima travelled to St Augustine’s Warren St Ground and scored twice in a 3-2 loss to ’Gustine. They edged out the ’Big Five’ champions in the return League fixture 1-0, and stretched them to the limit, before St Augustine equalised with ten minutes to go, then prevailed in the spotkick shootout.
’Naps’, on the other hand, can snare a record tenth national title (League and InterCol) if they win the competition. They had the South League lead firmly in their grasp, before losing three successive fixtures to meekly surrender the title they had held for the past six years, to Presentation College San Fernando.
Last year, Naparima were on course for the sweep, before a shock 2-1 loss to St Anthony’s College, also at the Marabella Stadium, ended their season. They now see this match as a chance to make up for that loss and prevent a rare, trophy-less season.
’This is on the list of titles we wanted last year, so that gives us greater motivation,’ coach Dunstan Williams told the Express yesterday. ’For me as well, going up against one of the more experienced and decorated coaches (in Grayson) in the League, it’s always a great thing to play against St Augustine.’
Williams feels his charges are not yet at their best, even after a 3-0 man-handling of Queen’s Royal College in last week’s quarter-finals, an ominous sign for St Augustine.
’Well for one, we had a knowledge of how (QRC) play,’ Williams explained, ’and two, we wanted to let people remember that we are a team to reckon with, and now I think the team has found its rhythm.’
For Grayson, there is no chance of St Augustine adopting a casual attitude against Naparima, who are expected to put up a tough battle for a berth in the final. ’We are judging every team the same way, we are playing every team the same way. (There will be) no complacency,’ Grayson pointed out.
St Augustine’s defence has let in one goal in six appearances since winning the East Zone League, and Grayson has firm faith in his defence, offence and substitutes bench. Still, the loss of talismanic captain Jevaughn Vance to bookings in successive matches will be a big blow for them. Grayson, however, did not appear too worried.
’The offence is fair enough,’ he explained. ’...We worked a lot on finishing and we have three trophies to show for it, and we are hoping to get another one. So the results speak for themselves.’
The results certainly will, with the winners getting a chance to oppose El Dorado East Secondary and write their name into the history books.
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