Big battle for FCB Cup

W CONNECTION and CL Financial San Juan Jabloteh will be going head-to-head for the First Citizens Bank (FCB) Cup in today’s final, scheduled for the Manny Ramjohn Stadium, Marabella from 6 pm. Jabloteh knocked off Joe Public 4-0 in their two-leg semi-final confrontation while Connection, who defeated 2002 champs Defence Force in the quarter-finals, needed a golden goal to eliminate a tough North East Stars outfit 4-3 in their other home-and-away semi. Both teams are yet to meet in the 2003 football season, but Jabloteh have the advantage of being the only unbeaten side so far this year. The San Juan squad, under new coach Ricky Hill from England, have a solid starting line-up comprising goalkeeper and captain Kelvin Jack, defenders Nigel Daniel, Ansil Elcock, Ian Gray and Cyd Gray, midfielders Otis Seaton, Trent Noel, Kerry Baptiste and Josh Johnson, and strikers Cornell Glen and Kerry Noray, all present/former national players.

On the other hand, Connection will field a blend of national players and foreign imports —Colombian goalkeeper Alejandro Figueroa, defenders Jose Luis Seabra, Rawle Fletcher, Elijah Joseph and captain Reynold Carrington, midfielders Ronaldo Viana, Gefferson Goulart, Silvio Spann and Lyndon “Chubby” Andrews, and strikers Earl Jean and Kendall Davis. Jabloteh held their final workout session yesterday, at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo, and Hill was eagerly anticipating a top match between the league’s two best clubs. “They (Connection) deserve and warrant a great deal of respect,” said the ex-English international, who replaced countryman Terry Fenwick as Jabloteh coach in March. Regarding any fitness worries Hill said: “We’ve got a clean bill of health. We have a number of good players vying for eleven starting positions so that’s given me my first real problem, trying to find the best team out of the quality that we have.”

Leroy Spann, coach of the Connection squad, was also reserved in his views on today’s match. He revealed that three key strikers — Jean, Davis and Titus Elva — underwent a fitness test during yesterday’s training session at the Ato Boldon Stadium, Couva. But he stated: “The spirit (in the team) is high. We haven’t played Jabloteh for the year and I’ll have to look at them for the first 10-15 minutes and then make adjustments (to suit).” Connection manager Raymond McLean was high in praise for the current league leaders, saying “we like challenges.”  “We’ll be analysing them and trying our best to defeat them,” McLean continued. “Tactically, I know we can win and, overall, the team that makes the fewer mistakes will win. And we’re keen on taking the trophy back to Savonetta.”