THE RBTT InterCol competition has reached its final four stage, with Mucurapo Secondary Comprehensive taking on Presentation College San Fernando in the first encounter of a Hasely Crawford Stadium semi-final double-header today from 3.30 p.m.
This year's InterCol semi-finals have taken on quite a different look than in recent years. There is no Naparima College involved, there is a strong Central Zone team looking to make the final in Carapichaima, and there are no East Zone sides left.
Mucurapo are favoured to make it to the final in the absence of Naparima and St Augustine Secondary Comprehensive's "Green Machine", who were booted from the competition by "Caps" on Monday in a Marvin Lee Stadium thriller.
But Presentation, who lost the South final to "Naps" on kicks from the penalty mark after a solid 0-0 performance against the South double winners, cannot be counted out, especially due to some of the unexpected results 2008 has produced thus far. And with coach Shaun Cooper-who last year took Naparima to the InterCol title-at the helm, "Pres" have grown stronger as the season has progressed, culminating in a 4-0 quarter-final whipping of Scarborough Secondary in Tobago.
Mucurapo, on the other hand, have the personnel to go all the way, with their captain Kevin Molino, their lynchpin in midfield. Add to that, there is the quickness of Terrence Clarke and Johan Peltier and the steady marksmanship of Mutar Taylor. "Compre" are indeed daunting prospects for any opponents.
Mucurapo have shown themselves shaky at the back, though, at times, and an alert Presentation can make it a difficult time for the North champs. But with a 6-0 dismantling of Arima Secondary Comprehensive under their belts, their confidence must be at a peak.
The other match-up should produce an exciting encounter between the "Tigers", four-time InterCol winners hunting their fifth title in 12 years, and Carapichaima, going for only their second final. The "Tigers" have had an ordinary season to finish a distant third in the North Zone League, but have since grown in strength in the knockout tournament.
St Anthony's pushed past Fatima 2-1 at Fatima ground to make it to their first North final in four years, and travelled South to the Manny Ramjohn Stadium, Marabella, where they upset Naps in the national quarter-finals.
Carapichaima have the best record of the four semi-finalists, with only one loss this season, a 2-0 beating at the hands of Mucurapo in the "Big Five" competition. And they showed against St Augustine that they should not be underestimated. They have a potent attack, led by Neil Woodruffe and Phillip Wickham, and a dogged defence.
Still, goals on the day, and not reputations, will determine the winners of today's "semis", and the winners' prize will be a chance to lift the most prestigious trophy in schools football.
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