“Every team will obviously coming at us because we are the unbeaten leaders,” said a mindful DIRECTV W Connection head coach Stuart Charles Fevrier this week.
The two-time Pro League champions presently tops the 2013/2014 standings with 29 points and a 12-point gap with a 9-2-0 unbeaten record.
Connection will meet second positioned North East Stars (17 points) in a Round Two Match Day Four top of the table clash from 8 pm at the Hasely Crawford Stadium on Friday, following a 6 pm fixture between eighth positioned San Juan Jabloteh (10 points) and fifth positioned Police FC (14 points).
And on Saturday Central FC will visit in-form Point Fortin Civic from 3.30 pm at the Mahaica Oval, in what should be another interesting contest this weekend.
“Every game is a challenge for us,” admitted Fevrier. “Every game starts at 0-0 and both teams have the chance of winning. But what is important for us at this stage, is maintaining consistency if we are to achieve excellence in the league this season.”
Already the “Savonnetta Boys” have celebrated this season’s Digicel Charity Shield, the Toyota Classic, and the FA Trophy.
Fevrier’s men have been beaten just once in all of this season, in a 3-2 penalty shootout defeat against neighbouring rivals Central FC in the semi-final round of the First Citizens Cup following a goalless draw. Central went on to win the title.
Connection, yet to be defeated in open play this season, are coming off Tuesday’s 4-1 win over Jabloteh, and were 2-0 winners over North East Stars in round one.
“We are doing what we can to keep our players motivated,” continued the St. Lucian born Connection coach. “We continuously aim for excellence in training and working on maintaining the professional mindset of our players.”
Surinamese forward Stefano Rijssel will be among Fevrier’s 18-man squad on Friday, although the 21 year-old is set to join Major League Soccer (MLS) Seattle Sounders over the weekend to spend two weeks in the club’s pre-season training with the hopes of securing a contract.
Rijssel was one of two players selected by MLS scouts from the inaugural MLS/Caribbean Combine in Antigua earlier this month for the MLS SuperDraft. The other player is Curacao midfielder Quinton Christina.
However the Sounders made the early move in inviting Rijssel to their preseason training.
Meanwhile Connection have also signed another Surinamese forward, in 19 year-old Dimitarie Apai, and also welcomed the return of 24 year-old Brazilian goalkeeper Murilo Da Costa from Super League outfit Club Sando.
But they aren’t the only club that has been snapping up players during the transfer window, which closes on Friday 24 January.
North East Stars head coach Angus Eve added 21 year-old striker Anslem Jackson to his list of December/January window signings which includes Lemuel Lyons, Keron Cummings and Chike Sullivan.
Central FC boasted the signings of Ataullah Guerra, Willis Plaza, Samuel Delice and Pro League newcomers Yohance Marshall and former T&T Under 20 captain Leston Paul.
While Jabloteh head coach Keith Jeffrey, without the services of suspended ace forward Kerry Baptiste on Friday, has bundled former T&T Youth and Under 23 footballer Jean Luc Rochford, 25 year-old St. Kitts/Nevis defender Mudassa Howe, 25 year-old American Bradley Welch, Kareem Smith and goalkeeper Shane Mattis before the deadline.
Digicel Pro League 2013/2014 Round Two Match Day Four
Friday 24 January 2014
San Juan Jabloteh vs Police FC—6pm, Hasely Crawford Stadium
North East Stars vs W Connection—8pm, Hasely Crawford Stadium
Saturday 25 January 2014
Point Fortin Civic vs Central FC—3.30pm, Mahaica Oval, Point Fortin