Boatswain hopes to fire Army to Pro Bowl

The season-ending Pro Bowl final will be the fourth clash between defending champions Defence Force and former winners Central this term. Central, who created history this season by becoming the first team to win the Digicel Pro League three times consecutively, have beaten the Army/ Coast Guard combination in their previous meetings.

Central were considered lucky win win 2-1 in their last encounter on January 24 when an own goal and a late penalty gave them the edge after Hashim Arcia had given Army the firsthalf advantage. Boatswain believes his side should take the positives from that contest.

Boatswain, who was used off the bench with six minutes left against Central the last time both sides met, said he is ready to lead from the front against the Couva Sharks.

“I would like to score more goals [on Sunday] and help my team win the trophy,” said the 23-year-old Boatswain, who scored a hat-trick—his fourth, fifth and sixth goals in all competitions since joining from Point Fortin Civic in the January transfer window—to help the Army to a 4-0 semi-final win over Police FC.

“Central will make it a competitive match and that’s what you want in a final,” he added. “We must just work hard, defend hard, attack hard, and have the confidence in ourselves. Central defeated my teammates all season, and it was the same with Police, but look at what we achieved against Police [in the semi-final].” Commenting on his first hat-trick in Defence Force colours, Boatswain said, “After the first goal it opened up the game for me and my confidence grew.

And I just wanted to keep scoring as much as I could. It’s good to fit in so quickly with the team and good scoring my first hat-trick for the team.” Boatswain also received a mid-week confidence boost.

His recent performances has earned him a place in national coach Dennis Lawrence’s 27- man provisional training squad.

But first, Boatswain will be against arguably the best goalkeeper in the Pro League - TT international Jan-Michael Williams - who was instrumental in lifting Central into Sunday’s final.

Jan-Michael made a save, then the winning kick during an eightround penalty shootout to dispatch Club Sando 5-4 following a 0-0 semi-final stalemate.

“It’s no surprise to me that we came out on top today, although it was a very difficult game,” said the Central goalie, following his team’s semi-final win. “Credit to Club Sando and their ‘keeper (Kelvin Henry), they did extremely well.

“But we have the extra quality in our team and that’s what helped us.

“We [also] have the right coaching staff and technical team,” added Jan-Michael who went on to congratulate Central’s assistant coach Stern John for his appointment as a TT assistant coach. “We have the right pedigree in the coaching and players,” continued the Central FC shot-stopper. “We have the winning mentality, even in training sessions.” Jan-Michael, however, believes Sunday’s Pro Bowl final will be an “extremely interesting” title match because “they (Defence Force) are going to make it hard for us.”