Digicel T&T Pro League champion, Defence Force will be going all out for a win when it comes up against host Milerock of Guyana in the away-leg of its second round Caribbean Football Union Club Championship qualifier tonight.The first-leg match hosted by the runner-up in the Guyana Football Federation National Super League will be played at the Mac Kenzie Sports Club Ground, Linden from 7 pm.Defence Force, will host the return-leg on April 22 at the Ato Boldon Stadium, Couva.Speaking on arrival in Guyana on Friday afternoon, Defence Force coach, Ross Russell said his team, winner of the CFU title in 1985 and 1987 was in Guyana to play for a win and nothing else.
The Teteron Boys advanced to the second round after they completed a 4-1 aggregate win over Bermudans, Dandy Town Hornets.This followed a 3-0 win at home after a 1-1 draw on the road in the first-leg.Milerock earned a surprised 2-1 win on the road to Suriname's Inter Moengotapoe for a 2-2 tie on aggregate to advance on away goals and will no doubt be a tricky opponent at home for the Digicel T&T Pro League champions.While he expressed confidence in his team, the one thing which could work against the T&T champions is their lack of activity having last played a competitive match on March 25, a penalty-kicks loss to W Connection in the Digicel Pro Bowl semi-final at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo.
But despite the 15-day layoff, Defence Force coach Ross Russell Jr said his players will be ready for Milerock."We have been training very hard for the series with Milerock because we know it will not be an easy battle."Some of our technical staff and players have a fair knowledge of what to expect from them and we intend to put that to good use."Our main problem is really what kind of surface we will be playing on as from the reports we have gotten we understand its not of high quality."The Milerock squad includes former Doc's Khelwalass, North East Stars, San Juan Jabloteh and Tobago United striker Collie "Hitman" Hercules, the player assistant coach and Kayode Mc Kinnon, formerly of Stars, Caledonia and Tobago United.According to reports, efforts were also being made to have Charles Pollard of Stars available for the tie on a short-term transfer.
The winner of the tie between Milerock and Defence Force, 1985 Concacaf Champions League winner with a 2–1 home-and-away aggregate win over Honduran club, CD Olimpia in the final will advance to the semi-finals in T&T from May 25 with the final and third-place games set for four days later.The semi-final winners and third placed club will qualify for the 2011-2012 Concacaf Champions League. The other T&T club in the tournament, Caledonia AIA will meet Tempete of Haiti in its second-round first-leg match on April 22, with the return set for May 7 in Haiti.