by Renaldo Gilkes
??With the quarter-finalists already confirmed in the LIME Pelican Football Challenge, tonight’s games are all about securing top group positions.
The programme kicks off at 3 p.m. at the National Stadium when LG Kick Strike Force will seek to finish top of Group A by securing a win over current leaders Bajan Pride.
Direct TV Red Snappers will hope to redeem some pride when they face TS Strikers at 5 p.m. And Ouch Boutique Red Tridents, if defeated in their encounter against Emmerson Boyce Fifth Avenue Fashions Bajan Elite, would be the only team without a victory this year.
In the 9 p.m. match, Phoenix Toyota UFO Firehouse and Nulook 360 Connections will both be vying to claim second spot in Group B.
Bajan Pride were off to a flyer but a 4-1 defeat to TS Strikers exposed some weaknesses which Strike Force will be seeking to exploit. Bajan Pride boast one of the tournament’s most clinical forwards in Jomo Harewood, who has so far racked up four goals in his debut season.
Strike Force will need to tighten their screws at the back but more importantly hope their strike trio of Dwayne Mars, Diquan Joseph and Carl Joseph can get on the score sheet. Coach Randolph Cox also has firepower on the bench with Tyrell “Peter Pan” Gibbons and Akeem Hill.
TS Strikers will be favouring their chances against a depressed and out of sorts Red Snappers, who suffered the biggest loss for the tournament when they went down 6-0 to last year’s champions KFC Akademiks.
If Snappers are able to field a team, hopefully they are predominantly of the defensive nature, for TS Strikers possess an attacking force of quality, led by the Chandler brothers Jabarry and Jamal, Zico Edmee and Armando Lashley.
However, TS Strikers have the issue of securing a goalkeeper, as regular custodian Omari Eastmond was sent off for serious foul play in the last game. Wing back Andre Bourne went in goal and this obviously took away from their defensive department.
TS Strikers will probably look at this game as one to gain confidence and a dress rehearsal going into the knockout round.
?Fantastic
?A perfect record will be one thing on the minds of the Bajan Elite players. The youthful unit has enjoyed a fantastic group stage, winning each of their four previous encounters and scoring at least two goals per game.
This feat has been particularly influenced by the energy and leadership of Jeffrey Williams and Reviere Williams, who have guided and guarded the likes of Kemar Headley, Romario Harewood and Raymond Hope.
Tonight’s game may allow Jerry Skeete to see some of the reserve players and allow his key figures to rest for what can be expected to be a very gruelling knockout phase.
Tridents have nothing to lose and should play with freedom. The talent is ever present in the team but the players do not always make the best choices on the field. This is a disappointment, to say the least, about a team which has players like Sherwin Success, Curtis Odle, Romel Burgess and Kerry Holder.
Firehouse players may be carrying heavy legs after battling to a rugged and hard-fought draw against Scotty’s Tech 4 Less Combined Stars a couple days ago. As both they and 360 Connections have qualified, management have the option of giving the lesser used players more playing time.
360 Connections, coming off two consecutive defeats, will need to regain the form they had earlier in the tournament.
