T&TEC and two-time runner-up Neal & Massy Caledonia AIA face off for the first title at stake this year in the Digicel T&T Pro League when they meet in the First Citizens Cup final today.
The meeting between the “Electricity Boys” and “Stallions” kicks off at 6.30 pm and is the feature match of a double-header at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo. In addition to the Cup, the winner will walk away with $80,000 while the runner-up will get $20,000.
In the day’s opener, the Pro League Coaches tackle the Media All Stars from 5 pm. Going into the feature match, the Dexter Cyrus-coached T&TEC, based on its current form will consider itself favourites for its maiden title at the Pro League level.
The “Electricity Boys” have so far enjoyed a fairytale run in its debut in the TT Pro League and are unbeaten after four matches, including three in the First Citizens Cup tournament.
The highlight of which is no doubt its 4-3 penalty kicks triumph over six-time First Citizens Cup winner W Connection in the semifinal round, inspired by goalkeeper Akini Adams on September 30. However, a victory today will no doubt top that achievement and looking ahead to the final, coach Cyrus said his team is going to play its usual type of game.
Cyrus said: “Just as the W Connection game, we have to do some things tactical and play very organised,” he said. “But all in all, when we have the ball we are going to attack. That’s what I coach,” he said. Cyrus was also mindful of the strengths of the Morvant/Laventille-based club.
“They (Caledonia) are very compact. They play as a team. “I expect that (their coach) Jamaal Shabazz might take the pace of the game down a bit. Shabazz has been around a while and is very experienced while I’m very young in the game. But all due respect to him, I’m not going to change my game plan,” he promised. Cyrus, a former national striker is also banking on the support from T&TEC.
“Not just the football team, but the entire T&TEC family is excited. We have printed over 450 polo t-shirts and in just one week they were sold out. So we are expecting a huge turnout.”
Caledonia will welcome back Shabazz from duty as coach of the Guyana team as it looks to make it third-time lucky in the First Citizens Cup competition, after finishing runner-up in 2001 and 2007, both to W Connection.
Assistant coach Jerry Moe, who has been in charge in Shabazz’s absence added: “You’re not going to enjoy the feeling of losing and we don’t want to be a team associated with losing. So it is important to go out and win. We need to be focused and get the right balance between offence and defense.”