Stars look to shine in FA final

IN ONLY their second season at the top flight of local football, North East Stars will be seeking to dethrone W Connection as FA Trophy holders when they face off in today’s final at the Marvin Lee Stadium, Tunapuna. Kick off time is 3.30 pm. It promises to be a mouth-watering clash, featuring two teams who have been in fantastic form during the six-week long tournament, which falls under the auspices of the Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation (TTFF). Connection booked their spot in today’s decider on December 5 when they defeated Caledonia AIA 2-0 in the first of a semifinal doubleheader at the Larry Gomes Stadium, Malabar, Arima.

North East Stars on the other hand survived a late scare to eliminate South West Institute of Football (SWIF) 2-1 in the other match that night. This time around, Connection will not have as easy a final as they had last year, when they crushed Arima Fire 5-1 at the Tunapuna venue. With the tandem of national striker Jerren Nixon and Guyanese Randolph Jerome up front, the Sangre Grande-based Stars have overturned the horrid performances they had shown in 2002 and have delighted many with their fluent style and aggressive defending, in particular captain Charles Pollard. The left-footed strike pair of Nixon and Jerome have received consistent support from midfielders Kevin Jeffrey, Kayode McKinnon, Anthony Wolfe, Carey Harris and veteran Kendall Velox. The defending champions will rely on their experience and determination to get the better of North East, who they also defeated 3-1 in T&T Pro League action on Sunday last.

With captain Reynold Carrington fully recovered from a leg injury and good form of late by national Under-23 defenders Lyndon Diaz and Kenwyne Jones, the Savonetta-based lads will be tough to beat. And they will also be pinning their hopes of retaining the Trophy on the shoulders of strikers Kendall Davis, Arnold Dwarika and Titus Elva, in addition to midfielders Silvio Spann, Ronaldo Viana, Gefferson Goulart and Kerwyn “Hardest” Jemmott.