Expect a familiar, yet unfamiliar look to Directv W Connection when they host United States MLS runners-up Houston Dynamo from 8 p.m. in a 2013-2014 CONCACAF Champions League (CCL) match at the Hasely Crawford Stadium.
Blessed with Trinidad and Tobago talent such as Joevin Jones, Daneil Cyrus, Mekeil Wiliams, Andrei Pacheco, Clyde Leon, Silvio Spann, Jerrel Britto and young Neil Benjamin, W Connection have also gone back to the foreign formula that has brought them most recognition thus far.
The former Caribbean champions include in their ranks Surinamese Stefano Rijssel , Antigua Gerrard Williams, Colombians Christian Viveros and goalie Alejandro Figueroa. They have also recently signed an Italian striker, three Brazilians and three Colombians and go into the match needing to win, after losing 3-1 on the road to Panama’s Aribe Unido.
W Connection are at a disadvantage since they are out of season, while the Dynamo are coming off a morale boosting 3-1 win in Major League Soccer (MLS) over a Seattle Sounders team which included former Tottenham attacker Clint Dempsey. Still, W Connection are optimistic about gaining maximum points.
“We have a quiet confidence about ourselves,” said Connection assistant coach and former CCL striker Earl Jean. “We know that we can beat Houston, and we also know it can go the other way. But obviously we want to win the game. We know that we can beat teams in the group and it’s for us to go out on the day and put
in what’s needed tactically and technically, and for the players to remember what the head coach (Stuart Charles Fevrier) wants, and what we have been practising on the training field.”
Connection, presently in pre-season with the TT Pro League 2013-14 campaign scheduled to begin at the end of August, head into only their second competitive match since May.
The former St Lucia international Jean said fans can expect the typical entertaining football that people have come to expect from W Connection as they attempt to win.
“We are coming out of pre-season and after our first game and loss (against Arabe Unido), we are trying to get the cohesion from the players against Dynamo,” continued Jean. “It’s only our second game while Dynamo are well into their season. But we are always a confident club and we are hoping that the players can go out, enjoy the game, get the result and make the Trinidad and Tobago people happy on Tuesday night.”
Admission for tonight’s game is $40 for grounds and $150 for the all inclusive covered stands.
W Connection squad:
Alejandro Figueroa, Aquelius Sylvester, Joevin Jones, Kurt Frederick, Gerard Williams, Silvio Spann, Andrei Pacheco, Tremain Shayn Paul, Devaughn Elliot, Hashim Arcia, Mekeil Williams, Julani Archibald, Leslie Joel Russell, Christian Viveros, Stefano Rijssell, Jerrel Britto, Alvin Jones, Jomal Williams, Benjamin Jr., Celio Guilherme Da Silva Santos , João,Ananias Jordão Júnior, Yefer Steven Lozano Rubiano, Mirko Delia.