Central, Point Fortin in Digicel Pro League clash on Tuesday.
ttproleague.com.
Central FC and Point Fortin Civic FC will meet for the first time in an eagerly anticipated Digicel Pro League Round One Match Day Four clash from 8pm at the Ato Boldon Stadium. And that’s not the only exciting feature at the Couva venue.
League leaders, DIRECTV W Connection (9 points from 3 matches), will host third positioned North East Stars (6 points from 3 matches) from 6pm.
“It’s the top four teams at the venue, and the outcome of the games will say a lot,” said Point Fortin head coach Reynold Carrington.
Carrington’s side sits second on the table with 9 points from 3 matches, and only behind Connection by a lesser goal difference, while Central—fresh from lifting the 2013 First Citizens Cup last Friday with a 2-1 come from behind win over Defence Force—occupies fourth position with 4 points from 2 matches.
Simultaneously at the Hasely Crawford Stadium on Tuesday, Police FC will tackle San Juan Jabloteh and leading league goalscorer Kerry Baptiste—7 goals in all competitions—from 6pm, and from 8pm, last season’s winners, Defence Force, and runners-up, Caledonia, both winless in the league thus far, will do battle.
“The league [title] is a journey,” continued Carrington, a former Connection captain and Trinidad and Tobago midfielder.
“The result of the game against Central is important as every other game, and once we keep winning, and we keep playing every match for the community of Point Fortin, then have a good chance.”
The debuting Pro League campaigners, Point Fortin, defeated Police FC 4-1 (Round One Match Day One), and registered 1-0 wins against North East Stars (Match Day Two) and St. Ann’s Rangers (Match Day Three), but were ousted in the quarter-final round of the First Citizens Cup by rivals W Connection 6-5 on penalties following a goalless draw at the Mahaica Oval in Point Fortin.
“So far playing against teams like W Connection and North East Stars … North East Stars were the ones to really test our ability at this level,” admitted Carrington.
“On Tuesday against Central, they will obviously be on a high coming off winning the First Citizens Cup, and no way at all, will be a team that we can walk over easily. The contest will be very challenging.
“In saying that, our players now have an opportunity to go out and prove themselves and not let down the magnitude of the double header, because W Connection and North East Stars will play in first match,” said the Point Fortin coach.
Meanwhile, the 15-month old Central football club, unquestionably still glowing over its inaugural title, stands unbeaten in all competitions this season.
Central sounded its 2013-14 intentions by defeating defending league champions Defence Force 3-1 in Round One Match Day One, but were held to a goalless draw against Caledonia in Match Day Two.
In the First Citizens Cup, eventually captured by the Sharks, the Terry Fenwick coached club defeated North East Stars 2-1 in the quarter-final round and Connection 3-2 on penalties following a 0-0 draw with 10-men.
“It’s really important for us to keep winning,” said Central FC captain Jason Marcano. “We want to show the (Trinidad and Tobago) national team and the general public what we are capable of with our mixture of youth and experience. We are playing an attacking style of football and hopefully our performances can bring the best out of other teams as well.”
Marcano—who missed the First Citizens Cup Final through red card suspension—added, “Point Fortin (Civic) have a good support at home and at away matches, but we have a good support from the people of the central region and we play to the best of our ability. We are young and vibrant, and great things will be coming out of us.”
The midfielder, eager to return to action, said it was difficult having to watch on from the stands during last Friday’s FCC Final at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, but had full confidence in his team.
“During a radio interview the night before I said that Rundell Winchester and Dwight Quintero would score. Defence Force were lucky that I wasn’t playing, because I would have added more. I was always confident in my players to win the title,” ended Marcano.
Digicel Pro League 2013-14
Round One Match Day Four
Tuesday 22 October 2013
Ato Boldon Stadium
W Connection vs North East Stars—6pm
Central FC vs Point Fortin Civic FC—8pm
Hasely Crawford Stadium
Police FC vs San Juan Jabloteh—6pm
Defence Force vs Caledonia AIA—8pm
Poll