Title holder bmobile Joe Public will be hoping to avoid another early exit when it kicks off the defence of its winner-take-all $100,000 Digicel Pro Bowl title against qualifiers Police tonight.The clash between the "Eastern Lions" and the resurgent "Lawmen," the first quarterfinal in Group A takes place at the Marvin Lee Stadium, Macoya from 6 pm and will be the first of a double-header.
Two hours later, Group B clubs, DirecTV North East Stars and two-time winner (2004 & 2007) and four-time finalist (2004-2007) W Connection lock horns.This was determined in a last-eight draw and tournament launch held at the President's Box, Queen's Park Oval, Tragarete Road, Port-of-Spain yesterday.
The two other quarterfinals will be contested on Tuesday at the same venue due to Defence Force's and Caledonia AIA involvement in the Caribbean Football Union Club Championship qualifiers tomorrow in T&T.On Tuesday, the "Teteron Boys" face another two-time winner and three-time finalists in San Juan Jabloteh (2005 & 2006) from 8 pm while Caledonia, the only other club to lift the title in its six-year history (2008) will tackle Ma Pau.
In the 2009 final the "Eastern Lions" defeated Caledonia AIA on 5-3 on penalty kicks after a 1-1 draw at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo.And tonight, all the focus will be on the new look Eastern Lions under the charge of interim head coach Rajesh Latchoo.
Latchoo has only been in charge of the senior Joe Public for one competitive match, an unforgettable 1-0 loss to his Joe Public Super League line-up in the round-of-16 of the Toyota Classic last month and he will be eager to avoid another first round demise.
Against Police, though, he will be boosted by the fact that Joe Public has won both clashes this season, 3-1 and 2-1 in league play.
Since then key players Trent Noel, Kerry Baptiste, Makan Hislop, Yu Hoshide (Japan), Gregory Gayson (Antigua & Barbuda), Nigel Daniel (Ma Pau) and goalkeeper Glenroy Samuel (Defence Force recruit) have all parted with the club.This has force Latchoo to promote a number of Under-18 players ahead of tonight's match and whether or not they will stand up to the test will be determined tonight.
The duo of striker Marcus Joseph and midfielder, Kenaz Williams will also miss out for Joe Public as they are on tour with the national Under-20 team in Colombia ahead of the Concacaf Under-20 Championship in Guatemala, later this month.
With so many players absent, Police, which qualified for the last-eight with a convincing 4-0 blow-out of St Ann's Rangers last Friday will feel Joe Public is ripe for the picking and with the positive change in attitude according to technical director Muhammad Isa, anything is possible.
The winner of the Joe Public and Police tie will meet the victor of the other Group A quarterfinal between Ma Pau and Caledonia in next Friday's semifinal.
The Sangre Grande-based Stars, already with one title in the bag this season (Lucozade Sports Goal Shield) and twice runner-up will also be fancied to get the business done against long-time knockout kings W Connection this season.
The Shurland David-coached Stars, beaten finalist in the T&T Football Federation FA Trophy and Toyota Classic have beaten W Connection 1-0 and 2-1 in the Pro League and 2-1 in the Goal Shield semis.
And just like in the previous knockout tournaments, Stars had to start from the qualifier round, where they blanked FC South End 2-0 on Friday.
The winner of the Stars/W Connection quarterfinal faces the winner of the Defence Force/Jabloteh match in the last four.
FIXTURES
Today
Quarterfinals: Marvin Lee Stadium, Macoya-Joe Public vs Police, 6 pm, North East Stars vs W Connection, 8 pm.
Tuesday
Venue: Marvin Lee Stadium, Macoya-Ma Pau vs Caledonia, 6 pm, Defence Force vs Jabloteh, 8 pm.
March 25
Semifinals: Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo-Winner Joe Public/Police vs Winner Ma Pau/Caledonia, Winner Stars/W Connection vs Winner Defence Force vs Jabloteh.
April 1
Final: Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo.
Groups
Group A: Joe Public; Ma Pau; Caledonia AIA; Police.
Group B: North East Stars; Defence Force; Jabloteh; W Connection.