High rolling Digicel Pro League leaders DIRECTV W Connection are in chase of a tenth consecutive league win when the “Savonnetta Boys” tackle table propping St. Ann’s Rangers from 7 pm at the Ato Boldon Stadium on Friday.
But it won’t be a new club record according to club owner/president David John-Williams, who claims that in 2005 when his club won the league title with 17 wins, 3 draws and just 3 defeats – 15 points clear of runners-up San Juan Jabloteh – the “Savonnetta Boys” boasted more than ten consecutive wins.
It’s now a great opportunity for the new generation of W Connection players believes the proud John-Williams.
“The bunch of players now have a great opportunity to do well and create history of their own,” said the Connection boss, who will lead his club to a thanksgiving mass on Sunday from 4.30 pm at the St. Paul’s Roman Catholic Church in Couva in celebration of 15 years as a professional club and over 30 major titles.
“We haven’t lost a game in regulation time in all of this season,” he added. “The team is doing well. But football is on the day and we have to work harder for every game. It’s going to be even more difficult (now for us) because we are the hunted ones. Everyone is focused on W Connection and we just have to remain humble and focused.”
Connection signaled its 2013/2014 league ambitions by opening with a 7-0 mauling of Rangers in Round One Match Day One, and the Couva based club only stared upwards since then.
Connection, with 23 points at the top and 9 points clear of second positioned North East Stars (14 points), are undefeated in the league with wins over Police (1-0 & 2-1), San Juan Jabloteh (3-2), North East Stars (2-0), Point Fortin Civic (2-0), Central FC (1-0) and draws against Caledonia AIA (0-0) and defending champions Defence Force (1-1).
The “Savonnetta Boys”, winners of the 2013 Digicel Charity Shield, also snatched the Toyota Classic and FA Trophy crowns this season.
Connection suffered just one loss this season, falling 3-2 on penalties to bitter town-rivals Central FC – eventual winners of the 2013 First Citizens Cup – following a goalless regular time draw in the semi-final round last October.
The odds of Rangers – slumped at the bottom of the standings with just 3 points – upsetting the team that is yet to lose in regular time this season, surely won’t buy any bets.
North East Stars and Caledonia, welcoming the return of 32 year-old forward Conrod Smith from St. Ann’s Rangers and 30-year old Jamaican goalie Kevin Graham, will also be in action on Friday from 7pm at the Hasely Crawford Stadium. And Round Two Match Day Two continues on Saturday from 3.30 pm at the Mahaica Oval when home side Point Fortin Civic hosts Police FC.
The Mahaica Oval is also the venue for Friday’s funeral service of fallen footballer Akeem Adams, 1991-2013, who died on December 30 in Hungary following a severe stroke two days earlier at the Városmajor Heart Clinic in Budapest, where he was enlist since suffering a massive heart attack in Hungary on September 25.
Akeem, a two-time former T&T Youth World Cup and Senior Team player, had underwent four live saving operations – the first being the installment of a mechanical heart – and for the three months doctors were awaiting his body to regain strength for a heart transplant procedure.
Akeem is a former W Connection, United Petrotrin and Central FC, and was registered to play with his hometown club before joining Hungary top division club Ferencvárosi Torna Club on August 7.
Central FC, the last club he played for in Trinidad, has committed its entire staff and players to the funeral service to show their respect for the ex-player. Central's Round Two Match Day Two fixture against Defence Force will be rescheduled.
“Everybody wanted to go,” said Central FC operations director Kevin Harrison. “Because he is an ex player (of ours) we felt it was right thing to do in showing our respect. And as a team we felt we should be all together for it. I would imagine that all teams in the league send someone.”
Upcoming Digicel Pro League 2013/2014 matches
Round Two Match Day Two
Friday 17 January 2014
Ato Boldon Stadium
W Connection vs St. Ann’s Rangers – 7 pm
Hasely Crawford Stadium
North East Stars vs Caledonia AIA – 7 pm
Saturday 18 January 2014
Mahaica Oval, Point Fortin
Point Fortin Civic vs Police FC – 3.30 pm