A 25-man DIRECTV W Connection FC arrived in Torreon, Mexico yesterday for their first game of the Concacaf Champions League against Mexican powerhouse Club Santos Laguna tomorrow. The delegation, headed by technical director and head coach Stuart Charles Fevrier, faced a long journey as there were no direct flights into city.
This will be the Savonetta Boys' fifth match against a Mexican team, having played Toluca in 2003, Chivas Guadalajara in 2007 and 2012, and Pumas UNAM in 2009. W Connection drew 3-3, and lost 2-3 to Toluca; won 2-1 at home against Chivas Guadalajara, later suffering a 3-0 defeat on the road; drew 2-2 at home against Pumas, and lost 2-1 on the road. In 2012, they drew 1-1 at home, but lost 4-0 to Chivas in Mexico.
W Connection is unbeaten in half of its 16 all-time Concacaf Champions League games with three wins, five draws, and eight losses. The Savonetta Boys are ready to face the current, and five time Liga MX Champions at the 30,000-seater Corona Stadium. Santos have also been Concacaf Champions League runners up on two occasions.
On their preparations, coach Fevrier said: "This year we had some challenges, but we are a club that is used to challenges. In terms of our preparation we believe that our players are at a good fitness level, though we know that there is improvement we could have made on the tactical side. We are prepared. Our objective is to obviously come away with a win and if we cannot do so, tie with Santos. We know that they are a good opponent and we are looking forward to the match."
Connection will field a youthful roster this year as they continue to place emphasis on the development of their youth system, with an exciting mix of Trinidadian and Caribbean players. Connection's roster features talent such as Alvin Jones, Jomal Williams, Tristan Hodge, Shannon Gomez, Neil Benjamin Jr, and Maurice Ford, (to name a few) who have all recently returned from national duty at the recently concluded PanAm Games.
SQUAD
Terrence Lewis, Kurt Frederick, Gerard Williams, Maurice Ford, Triston Hodge, Kion Joseph, Jomal Williams, Neil Benjamin Jr., Dimitrie Apai, Alvin Jones, Aikim Andrews, Julani Archibald, Jamal Charles, Shannon Gomez, Aquelius Sylvester, Kevon Goddard, Felipe Ocoro Viveros, Jabari Mitchell, Keston Julien, Anfernee Frederick, STAFF; Stuart Charles Fevrier, Earl Jean, Eligah Joseph, Chandeo Boodoosingh, John Jerry?