The quest for the $35,000 winners cheque and the First Citizens Bank Cup intensifies tonight with the staging of a semifinal double-header at Manny Ramjohn Stadium, Marabella from 6.15 pm.
Three-time winners, CL Financial San Juan Jabloteh, will come up against a high-flying United Petrotrin while reigning Cup holders VIBE CT W Connection meets 2002 winner Defence Force in the second match from 9 pm.
Terry Fenwick’s San Juan Jabloteh will be heavily fancied to get the better of Petrotrin in their clash but the “Oilmen” showed against Caledonia AIA/Fire in the quarterfinal round that they will be no push-overs and intend to battle to the last minute.
Speaking after his team’s training session yesterday, Fenwick said he would not be taking the “Oilmen” lightly.
“Petrotrin has a very good crop of players like Jerol Forbes and Peter Prosper who we know well.
“My guys have to get in the right frame of mind.
“We have seen a few upsets already and we don’t want to be among them, so we will be taking one step at a time,” ended Fenwick
Ronald Brereton, manager of the Petrotrin was optimistic. “Our guys are ready to rumble. Jabloteh will have 11 players on the field and so will we.
“We were beaten twice by Jabloteh in the PFL league (4-1) and (3-0) earlier in the season. However, our team has changed quite a bit since then.
“For the first time this season, we have been able to put together a two-match win streak, and the guys are in a very up-beat mood.
“The team is young but once we reach on the field anything is possible as we showed against AIA/Fire.”
Leading the attack for the “Oilmen” are national youth player Forbes, scorer of three goals in his last two matches, Kevon Clement and Kenndy Hinkson.
W Connection, which has been in the last four finals, will also start its match against Defence Force as favourites.
However like Jabloteh, they will be foolish to take their opponents lightly, with only a 4-1 win over AIA/Fire on Tuesday to show as competitive action for the past month.
Club owner, David John-Williams, the man responsible for turning the “fete match” into a local power-house, said: “We know Defence Force will be eager to avenge the defeat in last year’s final.
“But at the same time, we don’t consider ourselves as defending a title unless we get to the final, so our first objective is to get past Defence Force and then take it from there.”
John-Williams said he had one injury concern in left back, Brazilian William Silva De OIliviera, who picked up a slight knock in the league win over AIA/Fire.
The “Savonetta Boys” won their league meetings 5-2 and 4-0 and also registered a 4-0 triumph in the Pro Bowl semifinal.
Despite the three defeats to W Connection, Defence Force coach, Kerry Jamerson was confident. “Defence Force has to get back the habit of winning trophies starting with this FCB Cup, and being on a four-match winning streak at the moment, we have no intention of slipping up.
“The guy are just waiting for the first blow of the whistle,” said Jamerson.
Winners of tonight’s semifinals will meet in next Friday’s final at the same venue with the losers also squaring off for third and fourth place.