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Fri, Mar

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San Juan Jabloteh begin the defence of the Toyota Classic when they take on the Defence Force Super League squad tomorrow when round of 16 matches will be played.

The knockout football tournament involves 10 Pro League and six Super League sides and was launched yesterday at the head office of Toyota Trinidad and Tobago Limited.

Teams involved in the competition have been split into groups of four, from which only the winners will advance to the semi-final stage. Yesterday's open draw ensured that only one of Caledonia AIA , W Connection and Defence Force will advance beyond the preliminary stage, since all three Pro League teams were drawn in the very tough Group C, along with Super League knockout champions T&TEC.

Holders Jabloteh indicated that they will only go down fighting. "We have not won anything this year," stated assistant coach Travis Mulraine. "We have not defended any of our titles, so we are going all out to defend this title."

At yesterday's launch, it was announced that sponsors Toyota will put up the $30,000 first prize which the winners will pocket.

"For the past four years, Toyota has partnered with the T&T Pro League to promote our local talent in the beautiful game of football, said Donna Petit-Walker, assistant sales manager Toyota Trinidad and Tobago Limited and Daihatsu. "We are once again proud to show our support with a contribution of $50,000 towards this most prestigious Toyota Cup."

Meanwhile, Digicel Pro League CEO Dexter Skeene boasted of the improvement in the local professional league this season. He said that the tight finish which saw all the Big Six qualifiers having a chance to win the league, was testament to the competitiveness of the league.

Skeene added that the run of W Connection in the CONCACAF Champions League was also a measure of the quality of football in the Pro League. W Connection only just failed to reach the quarter-finals, but drew 2-2 with Mexican giant Pumas, beat both Honduran champions CD Espana (3-2) and Guatemalan club Communicones (3-0).