Central FC are confident of snapping a two-game losing slide in the Digicel Pro League while improving their chances at retaining the league crown when the “Couva Sharks” visit Morvant Caledonia United from 7pm at the Hasely Crawford Stadium on Tuesday.
The “Couva Sharks”, whose coaching staff includes coach Dale Saunders and former England-based professionals Brent Sancho and Stern John as assistant coaches, had boasted a 15-game unbeaten run in all competitions, but have stumbled in recent times with losses against Police FC (1-0) and W Connection (1-0) in the league and last Friday’s 4-2 loss against the “Savonetta Boys” in the semi-final round of the Lucozade Sport Goal Shield, which Central are holders.
Central, however, continues to lead the 2015/16 league standings by three points with one more game than, in descending order, title contenders W Connection, Defence Force and San Juan Jabloteh, who have four league games left.
“We haven’t won anything yet [this season], but we are still focused on the bigger prizes, which are to win the league and qualify for next season’s Concacaf Champions League,” said Central midfielder and captain Leston Paul whose side will join W Connection in Haiti at the end of April in the final round of the Caribbean Club Championship, which serves as the Caribbean qualifying tournament to the Concacaf Champions League.
“We (Central) haven’t lost any confidence because of the recent losses,” added the former Trinidad and Tobago Under-17 and Under-20 World Cup captain. “It’s minor mistakes that cost us. It’s not like teams outplayed us. We now have to focus more and not make those same mistakes.
“The plan is to win the next game [against Caledonia] and take it one game at a time. It’s a long season and of course there would be a dip. I doubt anyone expected us to stay unbeaten for the rest of the season. The aim now is to bounce back.”
Caledonia were on the wrong end of 2-1, 4-0 and 2-1 results against Central, in all competitions this season, but “Eastern Stallions” have shown they are a different side by recently climbing out of the qualifying round and all the way to next Sunday’s Lucozade Sport Goal final against W Connection.
Connection, three points behind Central on the league table and one point ahead of Defence Force and San Juan Jabloteh, will host the “San Juan Kings” from 8pm at the Ato Boldon Stadium on Tuesday following a 6pm kick-off between Club Sando and Police.
Defence Force will tackle North East Stars from 9pm at the Hasely Crawford Stadium following the Caledonia versus Central clash.
And on Wednesday St. Ann’s Rangers and Point Fortin Civic will meet in a bottom-of-the-table clash from 4pm at the Larry Gomes Stadium.
Digicel Pro League 2015/16
Round Three Match Day Six
Tuesday April 19, 2016
Ato Boldon Stadium
Club Sando vs Police FC—6pm
W Connection vs San Juan Jabloteh—8pm
Hasely Crawford Stadium
Morvant Caledonia United vs Central FC—7pm
Defence Force vs North East Stars—9pm
Wednesday April 20, 2016
Larry Gomes Stadium
St. Ann’s Rangers vs Point Fortin Civic—4pm