'We are not going to take any team for granted. We are 90 minutes away from winning a title, the guys are aware of this and they are ready for the challenge," said Derek King, the FC Santa Rosa coach, ahead of its crucial clash with Cunupia FC in the T&T Super League from 3:30pm on December 2 at the Larry Gomes Stadium in Malabar, Arima.
King, a resident of Arima who represented Arima North at the Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) before moving on to represent the country at different levels, has been impressing upon his players of the need to not lose a title on the final game of the season, as the team did last season.
FC Santa Rosa which is nicknamed "The Big Cannons" are on 60 points, three ahead of its closest rival Queen's Park Cricket Club, which faces second from bottom Club Sando Cultural Roots in its last match.
King sees this as certain three points for the Parkites, which means his team must at least draw against Cunupia FC to capture the title.
The mathematics though is that if the Big Cannons are beaten and the Parkites win by five clear goals, QPCC can wrestle the title from Santa Rosa, in spite of leading the standings for the past months.
King's main concern is the vulnerability of his defence too soft goals, a concern that was evident in the team 4-1 victory over San Fernando Giants on Friday past. "We have a very lethal offence from some quality players which always ensure our goals, but we somehow we always concede soft goals which we are working hard to plug."
He believes Cunupia will attempt to restrict his team's attacking move, come December 2. The last time the teams met at the Arima Velodrome, the teams shared the points from a 1-1 stalemate. But Cunupia, considered one of the better teams in the league this year by King, cannot afford such a result, as it will literally hand the Big Cannons the silverware.
The Central team is fifth on the standings with 44 points but will have a point to prove with a victory which will also take them to fourth.
Santa Rosa last won the coveted Super League title back in 2016, the first Arima team to have had such successes in years. And with their achievement came unbridled support from the Arima community, which includes Mayor Lisa Morris Julian and other corporate entities.
King told Guardian Media Sports he wants to say a big thank you to all who supported his team this season by winning the trophy.
Sunday's Matches
QPCC vs Club Sando Cultural Roots, St Mary’s College Ground, St Clair, 3.30pm
Cunupia FC vs FC Santa Rosa, Larry Gomes Stadium, Malabar, 3.30pm
RSSR FC vs Matura ReUnited, Curepe Reccreation Ground,Knowles Street, Curepe, 3.30pm
Bethel United vs Prison Service, Mt Gomery Recreation Ground, Mt Gomery, 3.30 pm
Guaya United vs UTT, Guaya Recreation Ground, 3.30pm
Police FC vs Petit Valley/Diego Martin United, St James Police Barracks, St James, 3.30pm
Sunday's Results
T&T Prison Service 1 (Shane Hospedales 57th) vs Cunupia FC 0
Petit Valley/Diego Martin United 2 (Akeil Thomas 44th, Quincy Charles 62nd) vs Bethel United 1 (Akeilon Murphy 58th)
QPCC 3 vs Erin FC 0 - by default
Latest Super League standings
Teams*P*W*D*L*GF*GA*Pts
1. FC Santa Rosa*25*19*3*3*73*23*60
2. QPCC*25*17*6*2*77*28*57
3. Prison Service*25*13*9*3*45*32*48
4. Guaya United*25*14*6*5*54*31*45
5. Cunupia FC*25*12*8*5*50*28*44
6. Police FC*25*11*5*9*42*36*38
7. Matura ReUnited*25*9*7*9*56*63*34
8. RSSR FC*25*7*7*11*34*48*28
9. UTT*25*8*6*11*37*42*27
10. Petit Valley/Diego Martin United*25*7*4*14*30*55*25
11. San Fernando Giants*25*4*10*11*35*55*22
12. Bethel United*25*5*6*14*33*59*21
13. Club Sando Cultual Roots*25*5*3*17*27*51*18
14. Erin FC*25*2*4*19*23*63*7