Defence Force, Central push for final CFU spot
T&T Express Reports.
Defence Force and Central FC, will seek second spot in the 2013-2014 Digicel Pro League and qualification for next season’s Caribbean Football Union (CFU) Club Championship. Already, Directv W Connection have filled the first CFU qualifying spot, having won the $1 million Pro League title this season.
Defence Force and Central FC take on separate opponents today. Last season’s champions Defence Force are currently second on 45 points and only need a point from their final match of the season to secure the CFU spot. They take on San Juan Jabloteh from 9 p.m. at the Hasely Crawford Stadium.
Meanwhile, third-placed Central FC have 42 points and a superior goal difference over the “Army,” but only have a slim chance of grabbing second spot. Central must first beat the bottom team St. Ann’s Rangers when they clash from 6 p.m. at the Ato Boldon Stadium, and hope that the soldiers fall against Jabloteh later that night.
Last Thursday, during the launch of the 2014 Digicel Pro Bowl, TT Pro League CEO Dexter Skeene used the opportunity to applaud clubs on a competitive 2013-2014 Digicel Pro League championship. He pointed out that the league championship has been an exciting one, not having sure winners until the penultimate day.
“We still have two clubs [Defence Force and Central FC] battling for the second Caribbean Club Championship spot on the final day of competition. It’s a tremendous advertisement for the Digicel Pro League and moreso, the Trinidad and Tobago Professional Football League.
“One of the benchmarks of a strong professional league is the competitiveness of the games and we can truly say that we have a competitive league in which the result of the games are unpredictable.”
Following what was to be today’s official final round, the Pro League season will actually wrap up with two rescheduled matches on May 20. The matches were postponed from a week ago due to poor marking of the field at the Hasely Crawford Stadium. North East Stars will meet Rangers in one match, and Caledonia take on Point Fortin Civic in the final game of the 2013-2014 League season.
UPCOMING DIGICEL PRO LEAGUE MATCHES:
Today
6 pm — Central FC vs St. Ann’s Rangers, Ato Boldon Stadium
8 pm — W Connection vs Caledonia AIA, Ato Boldon Stadium
7 pm — Police FC vs North East Stars, Hasely Crawford Stadium
9 pm — San Juan Jabloteh vs Defence Force, Hasely Crawford Stadium
Tuesday, May 20
6 pm — North East Stars vs St. Ann’s Rangers
8 pm — Caledonia AIA vs Point Fortin Civic
DIGICEL PRO LEAGUE STANDINGS:
Teams P W D L GF GA GD Pts
W Connection 23 14 7 2 49 18 31 49
Defence Force 23 14 3 6 47 31 16 45
Central FC 23 11 9 3 46 21 25 42
Point Fortin Civic FC 23 12 3 8 35 24 11 39
North East Stars 22 10 6 6 24 17 7 36
Caledonia AIA 22 7 6 9 32 35 -3 27
Police FC 23 8 3 12 30 41 -11 27
San Juan Jabloteh 23 3 4 16 22 53 -31 13
St. Ann’s Rangers 22 2 1 19 19 64 -45 7
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Defence Force, Central FC vie for CFU Championship spot
T&T Newsday Reports.
THE ATTENTION is now on Defence Force and Central FC, as both clubs, against separate opponents today, will try to secure a second position finish in the 2013-2014 Digicel Pro League and qualify for next season’s Caribbean Football Union (CFU) Club Championship.
Defence Force, second on the standings with 45 points, stands with the best chance of securing the final of two CFU spots.
A draw or win against San Juan Jabloteh from 9 pm at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo in Round Three Match Day Nine will cement coach Ross Russell’s side’s position behind league champions W Connection to represent Trinidad and Tobago in Caribbean Club Championship next year.
Connection, who secured the league crown, the $1,000,000 winners’ prize, and their CFU spot on the penultimate day, will wrap up its 2013-2014 league fixtures against Caledonia AIA from 9 pm at the Ato Boldon Stadium, Couva.
While Central FC, with 42 points and a superior goal difference over Defence Force, must defeat St Ann’s Rangers, when they clash from 7 pm at the Ato Boldon Stadium, and hope that the soldiers fall against Jabloteh later on the night.
Central and Defence Force are also aiming for the best finishes for a better share in the $1,000,000 of the league’s $2,000,000 prize money scheme this season.
Police FC, seventh with 27 points, and North East Stars, fifth with 36 points, also hoping to improve their positions on the league standings, will tackle each other from 7 pm at the Hasely Crawford Stadium.
Last Thursday, during the launch of the 2014 Digicel Pro League, which kicked off on Friday with a very entertaining quarter-final round, TT Pro League CEO Dexter Skeene used the opportunity to applaud clubs on a competitive 2013-2014 Digicel Pro League championship.
He pointed out that the league championship has been an exciting one, not having a sure winner till the penultimate day.
“Congratulations to W Connection for winning the first edition of the million dollar prize,” said Skeene. “We still have two clubs (Defence Force and Central FC) battling for the second Caribbean Club Championship spot on the final day of competition.
“It’s a tremendous advertisement for the Digicel Pro League and more so the Trinidad and Tobago professional football league. One of the benchmarks of a strong professional league is the competitiveness of the games and we can truly say that we have a competitive league in which the result of the games are unpredictable.”
On May 20, North East Stars will meet Rangers, and Caledonia against Point Fortin Civic, in two rescheduled Round Three Match Day Eight fixtures to wrap up the 2013-2014 Pro League.
Skeene went on to add, “kudos must go to all of the teams including St Ann’s Rangers, San Juan Jabloteh and Police FC who have improved tremendously this season, for always striving to raise the bar, to win games and topple the leaders.
“Credit must go to the players for their excellent effort and display of God-given skill and talent.
“Credit must go the owners and clubs. At no time or point did Central FC, Defence Force, Point Fortin Civic or North East Stars give up, notwithstanding the gap, which was created by the fine early performance of W Connection.
“Special kudos to the Army, which despite the loss of two of our talented sons, Kevon Carter (died of a heart attack on February 28) and Rawle Fletcher (murdered on December 20), they still found the resilience and indomitable will to battle back to a position where victory was possible up to (last) Tuesday night, the penultimate night of the Digicel Pro League.
“It shows that the League’s values are revealing themselves in the very nature and behaviour of the teams. The TT Pro League is about exhibiting a never say die attitude and striving for excellence,” said the Pro League CEO.
