“A repeat… that’s all I can say, a repeat,” responded Defence Force head coach Ross Russell when he was questioned on the expectations his club in defence of the Digicel Pro League title.
The 2011-2012 season kicks off on Friday 26 August with eight teams—defending champions Defence Force, last season’s runner-up Caledonia AIA, former winners W Connection, Adam’s Construction San Juan Jabloteh and DIRECTV North East Stars, St. Ann’s Rangers(Queen’s Park FC), Police FC and TT Pro League debutants T&TEC FC—vying for the Championship title.
The season will also comprise of four (4) knockout competitions, namely the First Citizens Cup, Toyota Classic, Lucozade Sport Goal Shield and Digicel Pro Bowl.
However the main focus for Defence Force and head coach Ross Russell this season is retaining the Digicel Pro League Championship and earning a second year running bite at the Caribbean Football Union (CFU) Club Championship with the hopes of qualifying for the CONCACAF Champions’ League.
“It would put pressure on us (as defending League Champions) because last season in the League the other teams didn’t know we were capable. But now they know and everyone will be coming harder against us,” predicts Russell.
“We are coming to defend our title,” said striker Richard Roy who will be a crucial member of Russell’s squad in absence of Devorn Jorsling on loan to USL club Orlando City.
Roy added he wasn’t surprised that his team won the League after the good start of eleven straight victories and believes that he is more than confident of taking up the scoring mantle this season.
Last season, Defence Force created history with eleven(11) consecutive victories in the League—maximum Round One points before hitting a patch of poor Round Two results.
Nevertheless, the soldiers held on to win the League with 41 points while Caledonia followed in second with 36 points and Joe Public third with 35 points.
“I think we’re going to do a lot better this year,” said goalkeeping stalwart Kevin Graham.
However he admits that the team has to work harder.
“Without guys like Jorsling and Kevon Carter (still working his way back from a broken leg suffered last October), the team has to work harder.”
Ross Russell’s squad remains a familiar bunch that includes Graham, Roy, Rawle Fletcher, Jerwyn Balthazar, Aklie Edwards, Jahvon Neptune, Anton Joseph, Dillon Prince, Keston Williams, Kerry Joseph, Devin Jordan, Kevon Carter, Sean Narcis, Dexter Thornhill, Dexter Pacheco, Rodell Elcock, Kurt Williams, Corey Rivers, Glynn Franklyn, Michael Edwards and Balondemu Julius
U21 standouts Ross Russell Jr. and Jemel Sebro who both featured last season in the senior team, are likely to have a bigger impacts this season.
“We don’t have any additions until later in the season, so we are well on our way for a repeat because we think we can do it twice,” Russell said confidently.
“We have guys with the potential but they haven’t stepped up to the table just yet. But during the season I feel they will get into it (and we will see some new additions).
“We can’t just replace the older players like Fletcher and Michael Edwards because they are still proving their worth.”
“We’re doing things the same way, but just a little more. Our preparations are the same, but a little funny because we had the Military World Games and had to slow it down a bit. But now were back on track.
“The CFU and Military World Games competitions kept the team together. Keeping good comrade throughout from last season into this season and keep the guys focused on the task ahead.
“The competitions also did well for us in preparations because the teams in the Military Games were of high standards.
“We have learned a lot from last season and together with the trainers we will be better prepared for the long season. We needed to rest on the breaks, because I thought that we ran ourselves flat heading into the CFU Club Championship and that hampered our performance in the tournament.
“But now the management understands what it needs to stay on top and Defence Force intends to stay on top in professional football,” ended Russell.