Central FC and DirecTV W Connection, having topped their respective Caribbean Football Union Club Championship qualifying groups last week to set up an all-T&T semifinal on May 22, the top Digicel T&T Pro League duo will now resume their $1 million league battle.Three-year-old league club, Central FC, with 49 points from 22 matches, currently sits at the top of the league table, six points ahead of four-time champions and reigning title-holder W Connection with both teams set to take to the field today.
Starting tonight, Central FC has two matches left to play against Pt Fortin Civic from 8 pm this afternoon at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo and then next Tuesday versus Japs North East Stars while W Connection tackles Caledonia in a earlier kick off today from 4 pm at the Mannie Ramjohn Stadium, Marabella with matches to follow against Police on Tuesday, a rescheduled encounter and then Play Whe San Juan Jabloteh.
Speaking ahead of today's matches, Central FC coach and former England World Cup defender, Terry Fenwick said the title was his team's to throw away."If we do our business right against Point Fortin (Civic) and with our (superior) goal difference, it would be very difficult for Connection to catch us," said Fenwick, who steered former club San Juan Jabloteh to three league crowns.
"I would like to win the two remaining games," continued the former Tottenham Hotspur defender. "Our players had a good long season and now they can wind it up in style by winning the league."Central have already won this season's First Citizens Cup and captured the inaugural Rawle Fletcher and Akeem Adams Cups, which were award to the winners of Round One and Two, respectively, in the DPL, under coach Zoran Vranes, who was replaced by reinstated Fenwick last month.
Central are also front-runners for the Kevon Carter Cup, which will be awarded to the top team in the Round Three.But there isn't any guarantee for the "Couva Sharks" just yet, albeit boasting a six-point lead at this stage of championship.
W Connection also want to retain the crown, which for a second consecutive season carries with it a $1 million first place prize, while the runners-up take $300,000; the third place team gets $150,000; and $130,000 to every other team down the ladder.But in order to keep that hope alive it must first try to trim the "Couva Sharks'" lead in today's early kickoff with Caledonia.
With the task of retaining the crown now out of his team's hands, W Connection Technical Director Stuart Charles-Fevrier, admitted his team faces an uphill battle."At this point (in the league) it's difficult, it (league trophy) is no longer in our hand but we will just concentrate on our games and try to win because that is what we have control over," said a hopeful Charles-Fevrier.
In the first match at Mucurapo today, from 6pm, Japs North East Stars comes up against St Ann's Rangers.On Sunday, third-placed Defence Force (36 points), led by Pro League all-time top goalscorer Devorn Jorsling travels to the Larry Gomes Stadium, Malabar to meet sixth-placed Jabloteh from 4 pm..
Today's matches:
Mannie Ramjohn Stadium, Marabella:
W Connection vs Caledonia AIA–4 pm
Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo:
North East Stars vs St. Ann's Rangers–6 pm
Central FC vs Point Fortin Civic–8 pm
Sunday:
Larry Gomes Stadium, Malabar:
Defence Force vs San Juan Jabloteh–4 pm
Current Digicel T&T Pro League standings:
Teams P W D L F A Pts
Central FC 22 15 4 3 56 16 49
W Connection 21 13 4 4 41 15 43
D/Force 22 11 3 8 44 29 36
Pt Fortin 22 10 3 9 43 35 33
N/East Stars 21 9 5 7 22 21 32
Jabloteh 22 7 7 8 30 38 28
Police 22 7 6 9 31 44 27
Caledonia 22 7 5 10 29 40 26
Rangers 22 0 1 21 18 76 1
Top scorers:
19 - Devorn Jorsling (Defence Force)
14 - Marcus Joseph (Pt Fortin Civic)
13 - Ataulla Guerra (Central FC), Purnell Schultz (Caledonia)
11 - Jerrel Britto (W Connection)
9 - Marvin Oliver (Central FC), Kerry Baptiste (Jabloteh),
8 -Willis Plaza (Central FC), Jamille Boatswain (Pt Fortin)
Remaining matches:
Tuesday:
Ato Boldon Stadium, Couva:
W Connection vs Police FC–6 pm
Central FC vs North East Stars–8 pm
Round Three Match Day Nine
Defence Force vs St. Ann's Rangers
San Juan Jabloteh vs W Connection
North East Stars vs Caledonia AIA
Point Fortin Civic vs Police FC