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NORTH EAST Stars coach Roland Clarke said his players are fired up to meet the club’s former coach Angus Eve when they host St Ann’s Rangers from 4 pm at the Larry Gomes Stadium today in Round One Match Day Three of the Digicel Pro League.

Clarke, now in his first stint as a coach of a Pro League team, said, “For me personally, it isn’t a grudge match.

But it is like a personal vendetta for some of the players. Their mind-set is that the game is an avenue for them to express their feelings for how they felt in the past three (seasons).” Clarke, who replaced Eve, at the end of the latter’s three-year contract, said he only learnt of the “grouse” after he took over the team for pre-season.

In 2012, Eve, a former assistant coach to Terry Fenwick at San Juan Jabloteh and to Michael Mc Comie at the now defunct Ma Pau SC, entered his first stint as Pro League coach and led the Sangre Grande-based club to the 2012 Toyota Classic and 2015 TT FA FA Trophy.

Clarke, although relatively unknown, believes he’s “no Johnny- come-lately.” The 50-year-old is a former assistant coach at North East Stars, and also had a spell as technical director of the club’s youth programme, as well as coach of the Reserve and Under-17 teams.

He was also a coach at Joe Public’s Super League and East Zone teams. At present, both North East Stars and Rangers are unbeaten after two League games, occupying second and seventh positions respectively.

North East Stars defeated Club Sando 2-0 and were held to a 4-4 draw with Police, while Rangers tied both their matches 1-1 and 2-2 against Defence Force and Club Sando, respectively.

“It’s about taking it one game at a time,” explained Clarke. “I have some work to do still. As I got deeper into it I realised there are certain weaknesses in the team. Already I am hearing the critics saying that North East Stars bring an exciting brand (of football). But it’s a long season and the players all know we need to continue working and improving.” Also today, defending champions and current leaders Central FC will tackle newcomers Club Sando, for a second time in five days, from 6 pm at the Mahaica Oval in Point Fortin.

This after the “Couva Sharks” defeated the former Super League champions 4-0 to reach the final of the First Citizens Cup on October 30 against Couva-rivals W Connection.

W Connection will also make the trip south and will face home side Point Fortin Civic from 8 pm at Mahaica Oval.

And in a simultaneous double-header at the Ato Boldon Stadium in Couva, Morvant Caledonia United and Police FC will face each other from 6 pm and Defence Force are against San Juan Jabloteh from 8 pm.