DEVORN JORSLING and Marvin Gordon, ace striker and coach of Defence Force, were noticeably pleased on Friday night, after their team registered a 1-0 win over Ma Pau Stars to capture the 2016 First Citizens Cup.
Aklie Edwards netted in the 14th minute to guarantee Defence Force the win, and the $110,000 jackpot, at the Hasely Crawford Stadium in Mucurapo.
Jorsling, who notched seven goals in three matches, copped both the Most Valuable Player (MVP) and Most Goals trophies.
“It’s the greatest joy, to achieve the MVP and the Most Goals title is a great joy,” said Jorsling.
Gordon, who was voted as the Coach of the Tournament, stated, “it’s a great feeling because the season hasn’t been going so well for us in the League. I think we (committed) to winning the trophy and to see everything fall into place, it’s a great feeling.” Gordon was facing his former coach Ross Russell, who is now at the helm of Stars.
Concerning the game plan, Gordon related, “I was playing the waiting game for a bit because I wanted to see what Ross would’ve offered.
Exactly what I thought is what he did.” Referring to the Stars’ strike pair of Jerrel Britto and Jason Scotland, Gordon noted, “he (Russell) tried to play off of Britto’s pace a bit, Scotty holding up the ball and Britto moving. I think we should have scored more goals but they had some great chances.
“I thought my goalkeeper (Andre Marchan) was brilliant, and also (Stars goalie) Glenroy Samuel. To me, the two goalkeepers (stood) out in the game.” Jorsling, the 33-yearold former Trinidad and Tobago striker, scored all but one goal for the Army-Coast Guard combination in this competition.
Asked how he copes with the pressure of being the leading striker in the team, Jorsling replied, “that’s nothing strange to me.
Since I’ve entered the Defence Force, this pressure has been on my shoulders and I welcome it. The guys believe in me. They work hard for me and I just try to repay them with goals.” With the season set to end in early February, Jorsling commented, “obviously we’re trying to make some ground in the League.
We have been struggling in the League but hopefully this (title) gives us some confidence to go on and do well in the League.” Gordon, on the other hand, pointed out, “I’m looking to win the Digicel Pro Bowl, to defend it, and also to try to come up to the top three in the League. I don’t think it’s beyond us, I still think we can come in the top three in the League.”