DirecTV North East Stars and bmobile San Juan Jabloteh will lock horns in the $120,000 T&T Football Federation FA Trophy final today at the Marvin Lee Stadium, Macoya, from 7 pm.
Both teams reached the final in contrasting fashion with Stars blanking league champion Defence Force 2-0 with a double from Guyanese defender, Charles Pollard and Jabloteh edging 2008 winner Caledonia AIA 7-6 on sudden-death penalty-kicks after a 2-2 draw.
Terry Fenwick-coached Jabloteh, which emerged champion in 1998 and 2005, will face another tough encounter in Stars, FA champion in 2003, as both teams go after the $80,000 top prize.
The losing finalists will collect $40,000 while semifinal losers, Defence Force and Caledonia will each get $15,000.
Having battled to a 1-1 draw last Friday at the Larry Gomes Stadium, Malabar, in the final league match of the season, it is anyone’s guess which team will come out on top.
Speaking on the heels on his team’s second appearance in the final, Stars coach Shurland David, a former national defender, said his players were in a positive attitude.
“The squad is free of injury and the guys are all upbeat and just eager for the match to start. Tomorrow (today) we will be going out to play attractive and aggressive football.
In two other meetings this season, Jabloteh won the first round league match 2-0 and Stars, which finished below Jabloteh in the Digicel Pro League due to an inferior goal-difference, won when it mattered most, 1-0 in the Lucozade Sports Goal Shield Final at the same venue back in August last year.
Reflecting on their previous clashes, David said he thinks both teams play a similar style of football which will make for an exciting match, but in the end is hoping for a similar outcome to the other final. David added: “This is a big game so the players are confident but at the same time we are mindful of the threat pose by Jabloteh.”
Jabloteh’s English coach, Fenwick is looking forward to lifting a third FA crown for the club and second as coach which he believes will be just reward for the tough season the cash-strapped club has endured.
Fenwick, a former England international defender, said his club always wants to win badly. “We have had an up and down season so far but against Stars we will be up to the challenge as the guys know its the biggest cup competition in the country and we want our names on it a third time.
For tonight’s match, the already thin squad at Jabloteh will be without three regular starters in national youth team duo, Sheldon Bateau and Robert Primus along with the suspended Joel Russell.
Both Bateau and Primus, central defenders, are on trials in the USA and Belgium while Karlon Murray, another defender, is still listed as tentative as he recovers from an injury. Despite the absentees, a confident Fenwick said: “We still got plenty of talent in the team.
The guys have trained very hard and are ready to play to win because we believe we have enough resources to cop a third FA title.”
With regard to his opponents Stars, Fenwick said they are a very experienced bunch and he also praised David for the tremendous job so far this season.
“For me (David) has to be one of the positives of the Pro League season when you consider what he has done with the team which has proven they can play good football.
Prior to the FA final, the national Under-17 and Under-20 players will meet in a practice match as they continue preparations for Concacaf Championship Tournaments in Guatemala and Jamaica, respectively. Tickets are $40 for covered and $20 uncovered while children under 12 are free.