Public warning
Defending champs stop Connection
Lasana Liburd
Monday, April 23rd 2007
TOUGH SPOT: Gary Glasglow
Joe Public, 2006 Trinidad and Tobago Pro League champions, reiterated their desire to remain the nation's top club on Saturday night with a composed 2-0 win over Vibe CT 105 W Connection at the Manny Ramjohn Stadium, Marabella.
Connection approached their task with the usual poise and flashes of radiance. But it will take more to unnerve a Public team capable of lethal attack off front or back foot.
Trinidad and Tobago coach Wim Rijsbergen, who was in attendance, has made no secret of his dissatisfaction with the local competition and Gary Glasgow knows it will be tough to keep his international spot ahead of foreign-based strikers like Sunderland's Stern John, Southampton's Kenwyne Jones, Sparta Rotterdam's Darryl Roberts and St Johnstone's Jason Scotland.
On current form, though, John-the country's record scorer with 67 goals from 100 caps as opposed to 12 from 53 by Glasgow-should be proud to play alongside the Public striker while there was enough to appreciate from the closing match of a Manny Ramjohn double-header.
The opening fixture, which featured a clash between the local Police and Defence Force, was tedious. The Army/Coast Guard unit deservedly won 2-1 as a goal apiece from Bevon Lewis and Sherman"Ants" Phillip kept out the Lawmen, who managed a fine late finish by substitute Keon Wilson.
Eight years have passed since the Defence Force were last domestic champions while Police's last league title came in 1994. Neither team are likely to enhance their glorious past this season.
Defence Force fielded a five-man midfield with the inclusion of ex-national youth player Chris Durity and managed to starve the Police frontmen of decent service for much of the game but the soldiers' wing play and movement were ordinary, at best. It meant an uninspiring affair from two of the Pro League's three clubs who boast of completely home-grown squads. The contrast between the two Marabella matches on Saturday was unmistakable.
For starters, Public and Connection offered notice to the flourishing football nurseries elsewhere in the Caribbean.
Public, coached by the Cuban duo of Domingo Hernandez and Manuel Rodriguez, play a mobile, combative brand of football epitomised by the ambitious Guyanese full back duo of Abassi McPherson and Carey Harris.
Connection, led by the esteemed St Lucian Stuart Charles-Fevrier, anchor their slick passing style with the street-smart savvy and brawn of the St Lucian pair of team captain and striker Earl Jean and sweeper Elijah Joseph-whose performances reject any notion of national bias on Fevrier's part.
The southern hosts began by hogging ball possession and testing their guest's patience but were put to the sword by a ruthless Public charge on the break.
Burly Nigel Pierre, who replaced injured talismanic striker Arnold Dwarika in the starting line-up, held off his marker and cleverly released right winger Kerry Baptiste, whose first-time cross was steered over the goal line by an alert Glasgow in the 43rd minute.
Connection pushed players forward in search of an equaliser but, with the speedy Glasgow in this mood, it was like juggling hand grenades.
Ten minutes after the break, Public doubled their lead after another potent combination from Glasgow and Baptiste.
Glasgow was the creator this time as he tricked promising Connection left back Kern Cupid with a stepover before dragging a low cross into the opposing area that Baptiste rammed into the roof of the net.
Two Public errors almost offered Connection a way back.
National defender Seon Power slashed at a clearance in the 70th minute but Connection substitute Andre Toussaint lost his nerve with a similarly wild finish while, four minutes later, midfielder Kayode McKinnon-one of four Guyanese players in Public's first team-was stripped in his own half but Jean's subsequent effort was blocked low by opposing goalkeeper and ex-Connection employee Alejandro Figueroa.
It was testament to Public's solid rearguard, led by captain and midfield lynchpin Dale Saunders, that Connection relied on unforced errors by the visitors for their best chances.
