DirecTV W Connection and reigning league champions Defence Force will kick off the 2013/2014 Digicel T&T Pro League season when they clash in the second edition of the Digicel Charity Shield at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo from 7pm tonight.
It will be the second such meeting between both clubs after the Couva-based "Savonetta Boys" blanked ten-man Defence Force 2-0 in the inaugural Digicel Charity Shield at the Mannie Ramjohn Stadium, Stadium, Marabella, last year.
On that occasion, Shahdon Winchester and "Player of the Match" Joevin Jones got a goal on either side of the half to turn back the "Teteron Boys", who had national midfielder Curtis Gonsalves sent off in the first-half.
The winner was awarded a TT$10,000 donation from Digicel which was expected to go towards a charitable cause identified by the club.
Back then the David John-Williams-owned club was quick to hand over the cheque to then goalkeeper and captain Jan-Michael Williams to offset medical expenses for his fiancee Candice Worrell.
The former beauty queen was brutally assaulted outside her workplace in January 2012 and was comatose for nearly three months.
A lot has happened since W Connection lifted the Shield as Worrell's health has been improving steadily; Winchester was loaned to Finland's FF Jaro from January 2013; and in that same month a verbal bust-up between goalkeeper Williams and W Connection head coach Stuart Charles Fevrier led to a split.
Williams, T&T's first choice goalkeeper, then represented St Ann's Rangers on a short stint from April to May, and recently joined W Connection's cross-town rivals Central FC ahead of the 2013-14 season.
Defence Force's roster meanwhile, will look pretty much the same this time around with the exception of last season's top scorer Devorn Jorsling who is presently on a Defence Force promotional course towards the rank of Lance Corporal while midfielder Curtis Gonzales is currently with the Soca Warriors squad.
Defence Force coach Ross Russell will still be able to call on long-serving captain and defender Corey Rivers as well as goalkeepers Kevin Graham and Sheldon Clarke; defenders Devin Jordan, Marvin Jones, Rodell Elcock, Glynn Franklyn, Aklie Edwards; midfielders Jerwyn Balthazar, Dexter Pacheco, Josimar Belgrave, Jemel Sebro, Kerry Joseph, Sean Narcis, Ross Russell Jr.; and attackers Kevon Carter and 2011-12 T&T Pro League/Toyota Player of the Year in striker Richard Roy.
For tonight's encounter, W Connection which has already played two competitive matches in this year's Concacaf Champions League, a 3-1 away loss to Panama's Arabe Unido and a 0-0 draw at Mucurapo with MLS club, Houston Dynamos on August 20 is expected to showcase a number of recent imports.
Its pre-season signings includes Brazilians Celio Guilherme Da Silva Santos and Jo�o Ananias Jord�o J�nior, Colombians Yefer Steven Lozano Rubiano, Yhon Stiven Reyes Lopez and Camilo Andres Ortega Diaz, and Italian striker Mirko Delia who have all featured in their two matches to date.
The regulars include goalkeepers Alejandro Figueroa, Aquelius Sylvester and Julani Archibald; defenders Daneil Cyrus, Mekeil Williams,Kurt Frederick, Leslie Russell, Christian Viveros, Brendon Boucaud and Alvin Jones; midfielders Joevin Jones, Gerard Williams, Jomal Williams, Andrei Pacheco, Clyde Leon, Silvio Spann, Tremain Shayn Paul; and forwards Stefano Rijssel, Hashim Arcia, Neil Benjamin Jr., Devaughn Elliot and Jerrel Britto.
However Mekeil Williams is out of the encounter as he is also in Saudi Arabia with the T&T squad for the invitational OSN Cup that ends on Monday.
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