Super League leaders Club Sando made a bold move by forfeiting its place in the 2013 FA Trophy to concentrate on the Toyota Classic semi-final round and its league ambitions.
Sando were scheduled to meet two-time defending FA Trophy champions and three-time winners Caledonia AIA on Wednesday – a second time in six days – at the Ato Boldon Stadium in the Round of 32, however due to “tight schedules and a short roster of just 18 players available” according to the club’s Technical Director Muhammad Isa, the decision to pull-out was made since Monday.
Last Friday Sando outlasted Caledonia 11-10 on sudden death penalties following a 2-2 draw in the quarter-final round of the Classic, advancing to meet last season’s Digicel Pro League champions Defence Force in the semi-final round from 6pm on Saturday at the Ato Boldon Stadium.
“Initial fixtures showed that we had to play Wednesday [FA Trophy], Friday [Toyota Classic] and Sunday [against Siparia Spurs in the Super League] and looking over it last weekend, we made the decision to pull-out on Monday,” added Isa.
Caledonia meanwhile advances into the Round of 16 which will be drawn on Friday 22 November.
Questioned if the yet to be announced FA Trophy prize money, contributed to Sando’s pull-out, Isa responded, “We weren’t really concerned about the money.
“We are at a stage that we can be successful in the Toyota Classic and we looked at that. We also want to go to the next level (Pro League) but we want to earn the right in doing so. So we are also committed to doing well in the Super League.”
At present Sando leads the Super League table with 35 points and closely followed by second positioned Guaya United (34 points), while Malabar FC (30 points) sits third.
Guaya United, also in the Toyota Classic semi-final round on Saturday against DIRECTV Connection from 8pm at the Couva venue, took to the field on Wednesday in FA action and defeated La Horquetta SA 4-2 with all goals scored in the second half.
Guaya, another club ambitious of joining the Pro League, got its goals from Earlon Thomas, Ryan Stewart, Jody Allsop and Kevin Jagdeosingh, while the La Horquetta scorers were Page Commissiong and Kevin Mulzac.
W Connection also warmed up for Saturday’s Classic with a 6-2 win over Cunupia FC at the Ato Boldon Stadium.
Silvio Spann grabbed a double, while teammates Neil Benjamin Jr., Jomal Williams, Jem Gordon and Camilo Ortega Diaz notched a goal each, before Cunupia fired back late with an acrobatic Denron Daniel item and another from Anthony Noel.
Six-time winners Defence Force and two-time winners San Juan Jabloteh were among losers on Wednesday, going down 1-0 against Point Fortin Civic and Westside Superstarz respectively.
While Police FC were comfortable 7-0 winners against Golden Lane FC with a double each by Elijah Belgrave and Aaron Stewart, and an item each by Trent Noel, Dexter Alleyne and Anton Hutchinson.