T&TEC and W Connection, currently the top two teams on the Digicel T&T Pro League table, will be fancied to advance to this year’s Toyota Classic Cup semifinals when quarterfinal matches kick off tonight at the Mannie Ramjohn Stadium, Marabella from 6 pm.
In the opener, W Connection, which was on a first-round bye, faces 1976 Phoenix of Tobago while two hours later, the “Electricity Boys” will try to get past Stokely Vale, another team from Tobago. But while W Connection will start favourites, it will not have its strongest team.
Coach Stuart Charles-Fevrier will have to do without the seven top players including Andre Marchan (goalkeeper), Joevin Jones (defender), Mekeil Williams (defender), Jayson Joseph (midfielder), Jomal Williams (midfielder), and strikers Shahdon Winchester and Jerrel Britto.
In addition, midfielder 15-year-old Matthew Woo Ling leaves for trial today in Portugal while club captain, Hughtun Hector was due to leave for trials in Vietnam yesterday. Phoenix is coming off a 3-1 shock triumph over bmobile National Super League double-crown champion, Joe Public led by a Dominique Kerr brace and will be eager to repeat an upset.
The “Electricity Boys” have enjoyed a smooth transition from the Super League, and currently sits at the top of the league table with ten points from four matches, one ahead of W Connection. However, Dexter Cyrus’ team came up short in its bid for the First Citizens Cup title, going under to Caledonia, 2-1, in the final.
Cyrus believes his team can reach another milestone this season. “We are pretty confident. The guys understand you need to win two matches and you’re into the final and win three, and you get a title. So we are very focused on picking up the wins and reach the Final.”
T&TEC, which was also on a round-of-16 bye, will be without experienced midfielders Romauld Aguillera striker Kevon Neaves, both on the injured list.
Tomorrow, former winner, Adams’ Construction Jabloteh tackles First Citizens Cup winner, Neal & Massy Caledonia AIA while last year’s runner-up DirecTV North East Stars meets two-time runner-up St Ann’s Rangers at the Larry Gomes Stadium, Malabar. This year, a new champion will be crowned as Ma Pau which defeated North East Stars 4-2 on penalty-kicks after a 1-1 draw in last year’s decider has opted out of the league.
Quarterfinals
Today
Mannie Ramjohn Stadium, Marabella
W Connection vs 1976 Phoenix, 6pm
T&TEC vs Stokely Vale, 8pm
Tomorrow:
Larry Gomes Stadium, Malabar:
North East Stars vs St Ann’s Rangers,6pm
Jabloteh vs Caledonia AIA, 8pm
Semifinals:
Friday December 2:
Final:
Friday December 9