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W Connection, the T&T Professional Football League's Pro Bowl Cup champion team, will meet National Quarries North-East Stars in one of three quarterfinals.

Reynold Carrington's "Savonetta Boys" are current leaders in the PFL's Senior Division with maximum 18 points from six matches and are fancied to walk away this year with the Cup and the $30,000 winner's prize (up from $20,000 last year) from co-sponsors Oscar Francois Limited ($25,000), local distributors of Seven Seas and National Flour Mills ($5,000).

The draw for the three quarterfinals to be played next Friday (May 13) at the Manny Ramjohn Stadium in Marabella was made by newly-appointed T&T senior football team coach Leo Beenhakker in the Jean Pierre Complex's Media Room yesterday.

In addition to the $30,000 cash prize, part of the gate receipts from the tournament matches will be added to the winner's prize.

In the final last year, W Connection beat CL Financial San Juan Jabloteh 3-0 on penalty kicks, after a 2-2 full-time deadlock while "Stars" went out in the first round, losing by a lone goal to Caledonia AIA/Fire.

North-East Stars, the defending champion league team, will be eager to make amends for a 4-0 league drubbing by W Connection in the second round of this year's competition by advancing to a semifinal at the holder's expense.

The two other matches feature Jabloteh against AIA/Fire and United Petrotrin battling Defence Force.

In their league clashes so far this season, Jabloteh played to a 0-0 draw with current second-placed team AIA/Fire while Defence Force won by default from the "Oilmen."

When the draw was being made, the first name to be pulled out of the box by Dutchman Beenhakker was Tobago United, who after five matches have failed to earn a point in the PFL this season.

But the Tobagonians were fortunate to receive a bye into the semifinals where they will meet the winner of the Jabloteh versus Defence Force in the semifinals.

Dexter Skeene, chief executive officer of the PFL, re-iterated his association's commitment towards the uplifment of football in T&T.

"The T&T Pro League is resolute, committed and undaunted in its commitment to the sustainable development of professional football in T&T. We have an obligation and duty to T&T footballers.

"It is also important that all stakeholders function in this type of environment, which will assist in improving all areas of performance associated with football.

"There must be an emotive link between clubs and supporters. Clubs must work in their communities to build support.

"People must be made to identify with the club while the community must feel a sense of ownership and want to be involved in all its activities.

"The Pro League will not become sustainable if there is a disconnect between the club, its players and the community", Skeene said.

In a brief address, Roger Rawlins, director of Seven Seas Business Unit of Oscar Francois Limited, noted that his company felt it absolutely necessary to get involved.

"We see a need to get the communities involved in the matches if the competition is to grow. This is why we have initiated the "˜kick for cash' contest whereby a person who purchases a ticket will be drawn randomly from the crowd to kick a penalty for $1,000," he said.

Rawlins also assured the league that his company will be giving its financial support for the staging of the competition for the next two years.

Tournament fixtures

Quarterfinals:

Friday, May 13 at Manny Ramjohn Stadium, Marabella, from 5 pm.

Tobago United "” bye.

San Juan Jabloteh vs Caledonia AIA/Fire.

North-East Stars vs W Connection.

United Petrotrin vs Defence Force.

Semifinals:

Friday, May 20 at Manny Ramjohn Stadium, Marabella, from 7 pm.

Tobago United vs San Juan Jabloteh/Caledonia AIA/Fire.

North-East Stars/W Connection vs United Petrotrin/Defence Force.

Finals:

Friday, May 27 at Manny Ramjohn Stadium, Marabella, from 6 pm.