Reigning T&T Pro League and Caribbean Football Union Club Championship title-holder, Central FC will make its debut in the 2015/2016 Concacaf Champions League against US Major League Soccer Cup champions LA Galaxy, tonight.
The match takes place at Stub Hub Centre, Carson, California,USA from 10pm.
Central FC qualified for its first ever CCL after beating fellow T&T club DirecTV W Connection 2-1 in the Caribbean Football Union Championship in the decider in May under former coach, Englishman Terry Fenwick.
However, Fenwick, has since parted ways with the club and has been replaced by former two-time T&T Pro League winning coach of Defence Force, Ross Russell.
For the 2015/2016 domestic and CCL campaign, Central FC which captured seven titles last season has added a few new faces, most notably veteran striker Kerry Baptiste formerly of Play Whe San Juan Jabloteh and ex-Pt Fortin Civic FC duo, striker Marcus Joseph and midfielder Andre Ettienne ahead of the new domestic season and Scotibank Concacaf Champions League. The 33-year-old Baptiste, a former T&T international will add a wealth of experience to the squad and scored nine goals last season for Jabloteh and is currently the all-time second highest goalscorer in the history of the T&T Pro League with 131 goals, five shy of all-time leader Defence Force's Devorn Jorsling. Joseph, 24, was the Pro League's top scorer in the 2013/2014 season with 16 goals and spent the last four seasons with Pt Fortin Civic FC squad scoring 15 goals last campaign while his club mate Ettienne, 25, chipped in with two goals from the midfield position.
In addition to the trio coach Russell will be able to call on Central FC regulars in goalkeeper Jan-Michael Williams, Jamal Jack, Elton John, Kaydion Gabriel, Jason Marcano, Willis Plaza, Sean De Silva, Ataulla Guerra, Marcelle Francois, Keion Goodridge, veteran leader Marvin Oliver and Akeem Benjamin.
Last season's club captain and national midfielder Leston Paul and striker Dwight Quintero are both currently in Turkey seeking European contracts and will not be part of the squad for tonight's clash against the star-studded LA Galaxy, which is coming off a 3-1 win over Colorado Rapids in which former Ireland striker Robbie Keane netted.
The MLS outfit has also acquired former Liverpool FC captain, Steven Gerard and resigned former Jamaican international goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts from Orlando City SC in exchange for a second-round selection in the 2016 Major League Soccer SuperDraft, in addition to Mexico international Giovanni Dos Santos.
Dos Santos, 26, signed from Spain's Villareal was unveiled earlier this week by the club and according to LA Galaxy coach Bruce Arena he will play against Central FC as he has recovered from his left abductor injury suffered during the Gold Cup which caused him to miss the last few weeks of the tournament. In addition to LA Galaxy, Central FC will also face Guatemalan champions CSD Comunicaciones in their Group D round-robin series at the end of which only the group winner will advance.
SQUAD & matches
Central FC squad: Jan-Michael Williams, Akel Clarke, Jamal Jack, Keion Goodridge, Akeem Benjamin, Kaydion Gabriel, Elton John, Elijah Manners, Jason Marcano, Willis Plaza, Kevon Villaroel, Sean De Silva, Ataulla Guerra, Marcelle Franocois, Triq Nichols, Marvin Oliver, Andre Ettienne, Kerry Baptiste, Marcus Joseph.
Central FC's Concacaf Champions League matches:
NB: Home Teams named first:
August 6: LA Galaxy (USA) vs Central FC
August 27: CD Comunicaciones (GUA) v Central FC
September 17: Central FC vs CD Comunicaciones (GUA)
September 23: Central FC vs LA Galaxy (USA)