IT’S ANOTHER clash between the two St Michael football titans with their star-studded casts of past and present national players and some of the country’s most talented youngsters.
Claytons Kola Tonic Notre Dame and Mackeson Brittons Hill renew their rivalry in the semi-finals of the Banks Knockout Cup at the National Stadium tonight.
The 8 p.m. kick-off will follow the first semi-final between Premiership side Lucky Horseshoe Ellerton and Division 1 team Sunrise.
Sunrise, with former Barbados player Paul “Soup” Lovell joining them this season as well as winger Jermaine Boyce, Tony Edwards, and Damien Edwards, should not be estimated. They ousted Ice Group Wales in the early rounds and showed their goalscoring prowess by thrashing Lodge Road in the quarter-finals.
Ellerton have been hot and cold this season but the return from injury of captain and sweeper Alvin “Gate Man” Holder has inspired them.
They have also been bolstered by the long-awaited homecoming of injury-prone midfielder Shurland Roberts from Paradise.
His service to promising striker Chad Parris and the contributions from Ian Ifill, Javon Best, Damien “Bobby” Walcott, Theo Parris, and Shamar Ifill will be crucial.
With the World Cup football matches ending before 4:30 p.m. daily, local fans will be able to see two of the country’s best teams.
After the Dames dethroned Brittons Hill to take the prestigious Premiership title, the Valery boys bounced back with an emotional penalty shoot-out win to lift the Guinness Super Eight Cup.
The Dames will have to decide whether to start with their leading goalscorer Kyle Gibson or fellow teenager Decarlo Jemmott up front.
Maradona Lavine must also look to score goals, instead of merely dribbling his way into the attacking third and putting in passes or crosses.
While John “Nobby” Parris has done a good job in midfield, having to play 120 minutes in the Guinness final last Sunday, then a full 90 on Thursday in a hard-fought 3-2 win over a determined
Shawn Hope United, may be telling on his aging body. This means youngsters Renaldo Gilkes and Giancarlo Cobham must step up to the plate, especially if the versatile Rudi Grosvenor is still sidelined.
The three matches in a week could also have a toll on another veteran in the Dames’ side, Wayne Sobers.
On the other hand, Brittons Hill’s evergreen Gregory “Lalu” Goodridge would’ve had a midweek rest and should been refreshed to marshal his defence.
The Riviere Williams and Walton Burrowes partnership should keep Sobers and Orville Bobb busy. But it is in midfield where Brittons Hill could have the edge, with the skilful Rondelle Vaughan, the very experienced rugged defensive midfielder Luther Watson, promising teenager Zidkigah Samuel, and Anthony Cumberbatch coming off the bench.
The input of former Barbados Defence Force Sports Programme captain Rohan Hall (Brittons Hill) and Bryan Neblett (Notre Dame) with their overlapping runs, crosses and inswinging corners, could also be key factors.
