Naps sniff South Zone title today

NAPARIMA could dethrone South Zone football champions Princes Town after today’s confrontation against second-placed St Benedict’s at Skinner Park, San Fernando from 5 pm. “Naps,” with a tally of 24 points, are eight points ahead of their La Romain-based opponents, and now need at least a point from this British Gas Secondary Schools encounter to reclaim the crown they relinquished last year. The odds are stacked heavily in Naparima’s favour, with St Benedict’s opposing Pleasantville on Saturday and P/Town on Tuesday while Naps will face the lower-placed teams Presentation San Fernando and Vessigny in their final two fixtures. Skinner Park will be staging a double-header today, with Pleasantville and Vessigny clashing from 3 pm.

All other matches in the South, North, East and Central Zones will kick off at 3.45 pm, with Princes Town hosting Presentation while Fyzabad welcome Mayaro in the remaining South Zone clashes. Today’s North Zone contests will present a clearer picture with regards to the direction of the 2003 title, with leaders and double champs St Anthony’s, QRC, Mucurapo and Malick still with a realistic chance of capturing the crown. The “Westmoorings Tigers” St Anthony’s are favoured to defeat St Mary’s at CIC Grounds, St Clair while QRC should get the better of the sliding Fatima at Fatima Grounds. But Mucurapo and Malick will square off at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo with the loser virtually eliminated from title contention.
The bottom-two placed teams Diego Martin and Morvant/Laventille meet in the other matchup at Diamond Vale. Back-to-back East Zone winners Arima are almost guaranteed a further three points when they welcome Hillview to the Larry Gomes Stadium, Malabar, Arima. Runners-up St Augustine travel to the Sangre Grande Recreation Ground to face Toco, El Dorado host the consistent St George’s while San Juan square off against neighbours Barataria at Bourg Mulatresse. Both Central Zone leaders Carapichaima and defending champs Presentation Chaguanas have relatively easy tasks today, with Carapichaima opposing Union Claxton Bay at the Ato Boldon Stadium, Couva and “Pres” travelling to neighbours Chaguanas Senior.