Carapichaima East will be keen for more success on its visit to Tobago this afternoon, when it faces Signal Hill in a BG T&T Secondary Schools Football League national Big-Five quarterfinal at the Dwight Yorke Stadium, Bacolet, from 4 pm. Carapichaima, winners of the Central Zone title for a fifth straight season on Saturday, has made the journey to Tobago on three previous occasions and has twice come away victorious. Back in 1992, Caps had a win over Elizabeth’s College en route to reaching the national final, while last year it beat Mason Hall 2–0 to avenge a 2–1 defeat two years ago.
With regards to the health of his squad Seepersad said apart from a few minor injuries everyone will be ready. “There are one or two guys carrying slight knocks from playing in the Under-16 team on Monday but they will be fit for the match.” Expected to lead the Carapichaima attack are strikers Anton Gill and Moriba Vance, who netted more than half their team’s 18 goals in four zonal matches. They will be ably supported by Christon Ralph, Isiah Rivers, Isiah Tidd and Shaquille Holder. However, the task will not be an easy one for Carapichaima, which only conceded three goals in its four zonal matches, as Signal Hill manager Xavier King, the schools’ Acting Principal, said his team was bent of returning to its glory days.
Once a dominant force, four-time national champions Signal Hill (1984, 1987, 1988 & 1998) captured its first zonal title in five years on Monday and were led by the attacking quintet of Dareem Moore, Darryl Trim, Nariel Wilson, Shaquille Gill and Shaquille Joefield, who are keen to lead their team to a first national title in 12 years. King said, “The mood in the camp is very good and even though we have not seen Carapichaima I’m very confident in our guys ability.” The Signal Hill manager was also looking forward to a large turn out of supporters which he feels will give his team a boost.
“We are expecting a big crowd and the guys will have that added incentive of not wanting to let them down,” ended King. The winner of today’s match advances to the semifinal round against five-time North Zone winner and two-time national champions, St Anthony’s College at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo, on Tuesday. On Monday, three-time national champions Naparima (1999, 2005 and 2008), which clinched a sixth South Zone crown on Saturday in seven years, will meet two-time defending East zone and five-time national champions, St Augustine Secondary in the first semifinal at Manny Ramjohn Stadium, Marabella, from 4 pm.
National Big-Five playoffs
Quarterfinal:
Today
Signal Hill vs Carapichaima, Dwight Yorke Stadium, Bacolet, 4 pm.
Semifinal:
Monday
Naparima vs St Augustine, Manny Ramjohn Stadium, Marabella, 4 pm.
Tuesday
St Anthony’s vs Signal Hill/Carapichaima winner, Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo, 4 pm
Final:
October 29: To be advised.
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