St. Ann’s Rangers Head Coach Dean Pacheco isn’t as bad off as expected. Pacheco landed his second Digicel Pro League Championship win on Saturday at the Ato Boldon Stadium by edging cellar positioned T&TEC FC 1-0.
Utility player Devon Modeste netting his seventh League item by headed in from a Cecil Jeffrey free kick in the 61st minute.
The win pushed Rangers up a spot into sixth on the standings with 8 points from 8 matches.
For many, a win for Rangers was near impossible following an 8-0 trashing against leaders Defence Force in the St. Ann’s club previous League outing after losing valuable striker Hector Sam, defender Elijah Belgrave and midfielder Christon Thomas.
“It was hard after starting with certain players, then losing them midway through the season,” said Pacheco. “It’s not that we weren’t playing good. It’s just that the players are looking out for their livelihoods and I understand that. They aren’t young players anymore.”
Sam followed Rangers team administrator Adrian Romain and physiotherapist Oswin Birchwood to Central FC, while Belgrave and Thomas joined Police FC during the transfer window which closes on Tuesday 15 January.
Central and Police were also in action on Saturday at the Couva venue and played to a goalless draw, while Pacheco who earlier showcased a few new signings was still brandishing a smile.
Rangers’ co-owner Richard Fakoory snapped up on six Joe Public players last week giving hope to Pacheco and assistant coach Jason Spence.
Pacheco listed signees Kerron Reid and Devon King as utility players, Dominic Hutchinson for right-back position, Alfie James as right-back/right midfielder and brothers Muhammad and Musa Nakhid for central midfielder/left-back and central defender respectively.
Physiotherapist Sheldon Scipio has also made the switch from Joe Public to Rangers to occupy the vacant position.
“I’m coping well following the exit of a few of my top players,” added Pacheco.
“Our performance on Saturday was good and I believe we should have scored more goals after playing all over them(T&TEC).”
Pacheco, a former Rangers and Trinidad and Tobago footballer, is now hunting a good result against defending champions DIRECTV W Connection who just as T&TEC defeated the St. Ann’s club in Round One.
“It’s possible that we can get a victory (against Connection),” said the Rangers coach. “And if we don’t get the win, we wouldn’t like to leave south without a point.
“When we met them in Round One the plan was to kill their passing game and we did well, but two mistakes at the back gave away the game.”
Rangers were defeated 2-1 by Connection in Round One Match Day Three and will tackle the third positioned ‘Savonnetta Boys’ from 6pm at the Mannie Ramjohn Stadium on Friday followed by Defence Force against Caledonia AIA in a top of the table tie from 8pm.
Round Two Match Day Three continues on Saturday at the Ato Boldon Stadium with Police against North East Stars from 5pm and T&TEC against Central from 7pm.
Digicel Pro League Championship
Round Two Match Day Three
Friday 18 January 2013
Manny Ramjohn Stadium
W Connection vs St. Ann’s Rangers—6pm
Defence Force vs Caledonia AIA—8pm
Ato Boldon Stadium
Police FC vs North East Stars—5pm
T&TEC FC vs Central FC—7pm