The race for the inaugural T&T Premier Football League (TTPFL) Tier I is expected to take a decisive turn Wednesday when the four top clubs on the 12-club standings face off in a doubleheader at the Phase II Recreation Ground, La Horquetta with the first match kicking off at 5 pm.
The four clubs will be boosted by the return of most of their key players who were on duty with the national team which defeated Guatemala 1-0 in a friendly international in Pennsylvania, USA on Sunday.
Defence Force, the 19-time national league champion leads the table with 50 points from 20 matches, one ahead of AC Port-of-Spain, who has a match in hand while third-placed Tiger Tanks Club Sando is five points off the pace, and the only other team with a chance of securing the league crown is Terminix La Horquetta Rangers on 43 points and in fourth spot with two matches left to play.
In tonight’s opener, AC Port-of-Spain, who has a match against Prisons Service outstanding, will meet Club Sando at 5 pm kick off with both teams needing maximum points to keep their title hopes alive.
However, in a boost to avoid coming up short, both clubs will be lifted by the return of their national players who did not get the nod from national coach Angus Eve for his final 23-man Gold Cup squad.
For AC PoS, the quartet of captain Duane Muckette, Che Benny, Jameel Neptune, and Michael Poon-Angeron are all available while goalkeeper Marvin Phillip is more than certain of a place in Eve’s final team, while for Club Sando, Nathaniel James, the league’s joint top scorer with 13 goals along with Rangers’ Ataulla Guerra have both returned home along with defender Josiah Trimmingham, while winger Real Gill, and midfielder Alvin Jones, who scored the match-winner against Guatemala have been called up by Eve.
Defence Force will also welcome the return of its national team trio of Justin Sadoo, Justin Garcia, and Kaihim Thomas for their clash with Rangers in the 7.15 pm feature that the host will sport Ross Russell Jr, while Kadeem Corbin remains on national team duties.
Wednesday's matches
W Connection vs Police, Mahaica Sporting Complex, Point Fortin, 5 pm
Point Fortin Civic vs Prisons Service, Mahaica Sporting Complex, Point Fortin, 7.15 pm
AC Port-of-Spain vs Club Sando, Phase II Rec. Ground, La Horquetta, 5 pm
La Horquetta Rangers vs Defence Force, Phase II Rec. Ground, La Horquetta, 7.15 pm
San Juan Jabloteh vs Cunupia FC, Ato Boldon Rec. Ground, 5 pm
Morvant Caledonia vs Central FC, Larry Gomes Stadium, Malabar, 4 pm
Standings
Pos Team P W D L F A Pts
1 Defence Force 20 16 2 2 47 13 50
2 AC PoS 19 16 1 2 53 14 49
3 Club Sando 20 14 3 3 39 19 45
4 LH Rangers 20 14 1 5 60 26 43
5 Police 20 10 3 7 39 32 33
6 Central FC 20 9 1 10 34 40 28
7 Pt Fortin Civic 20 7 3 10 19 23 24
8 W Connection 20 6 4 10 18 30 22
9 Jabloteh 20 4 4 12 28 43 16
10 Morvant Caledonia 20 4 2 14 22 48 14
11 Prisons Service 19 3 2 14 12 49 11
12 Cunupia FC 20 2 2 16 11 45 8
Topscorers
13 – Ataulla Guerra (La Horquetta Rangers), Nathaniel James (Club Sando)
10 – Kevon Woodley (San Juan Jabloteh), Brent Sam (Defence Force)
9 – John-Paul Rochford (AC PoS)
8 – Che Benny, Duane Muckette (AC PoS), Jabari Mitchell (Police)
7 – Tyrone Charles, Isaiah Lee (La Horquetta Rangers), Kesean St Rose, Keron Cummings (Central FC), Reon Moore (Defence Force), Alvin Jones (Club Sando), Jomoul Francois (AC PoS).
