Connection, Army in Charity Shield rematch

The Charity Shield features the winners of the Digicel Pro League (Defence Force) and the winners of the Digicel Pro Bowl (W Connection), with the Shield winner guaranteed a $10,000 donation from Digicel, which will go towards a charitable cause identified by the club.

One year ago, Connection, then reigning League champions, lifted the Charity Shield by defeating then Pro Bowl champions Defence Force 2-0 at the Manny Ramjohn Stadium in Marabella, through a goal each by Shahdon Winchester and Joevin Jones.

Connection gave the 2012-2013 winners’ cheque to then goalkeeper and captain Jan Michael Williams to offset medical expenses for his fianc?e Candice Worrell, who was brutally assaulted outside her workplace in January 2012 and was comatose for nearly three months.

A lot has happened since Connection lifted the Shield.

Worrell’s health has been improving steadily, Winchester was loaned to Finland’s FF Jaro from January 2013, and in that same month a verbal bust-up between goalkeeper Williams and Connection coach Stuart Charles-Fevrier resulted in the ex-national captain moving to St Ann’s Rangers and now Central FC.

Meanwhile, Defence Force’s roster will look pretty much the same this time around with the exception of last season’s top scorer Devorn Jorsling, who is presently on an army promotional course towards the rank of lance corporal, and midfielder Curtis Gonzales, who is currently with the TT team at the OSN Cup in Saudi Arabia.

Connection are expected to showcase a number of recent imports, including Brazilians Celio Da Silva Santos and Jo?o Jord?o; Colombians Yefer Rubiano, Yhon Lopez and Camilo Diaz; and Italian striker Mirko Delia.