Marvin Gordon, the Defence Force coach, will go after his first title since taking charge of the Army Coast-Guard outfit when they oppose W Connection in the final of the Digicel Pro Bowl today from 8 pm at the Ato Boldon Stadium, Couva.
The winner will walk away with $100,000. As assistant coach to Ross Russell, Gordon got the sweet taste of victory back in 2012 in the Digicel Pro Bowl which was one of four titles won over a five-year period between 2009-2013 and included the First Citizens Cup in 2009 and 2013; the Digicel Pro Bowl in 2010/11 and 2013.
He missed a shot at his first title five months ago when his team was beaten by W Connection 4 -0 in the final of the Toyota Classic. The ‘Savonetta Boys’ had only as a few months ago copped the First Citizens Cup by beating Central FC in the final. Connection, now in their fifth final of the season, are the unprecedented four-time former Pro Bowl champions and will be seeking their third.
“The ultimate goal is to win,” said Gordon who took up the post of coach 17 months ago, when Russell’s tenure came to an end in December 2014.
He said: “We haven’t won anything for the season and haven’t won a major title since 2013. This is our last chance.”
A day before his troops head into battle, Gordon said: “It will be great if we do. This is my first full season in charge and in your first season, anywhere in the world, it will always be great to put your hands on a major trophy. But winning the title won’t be just about me. It will be for our players because they have never dropped their heads even when we had bad patches. It will also be a title for the T&T Defence Force because there are lots of people working very hard behind the scenes for me and the players to get what we need.”
The Army finished third in the Digicel Pro League this season behind Central FC and San Juan Jabloteh.
They got the edge on fourth place W Connection on goal difference, but this would account for nothing as they will not be fielding their full-strength team tonight. Defender Curtis Gonzales is away on national duty with the Soca Warriors who will face South American giants Uruguay tonight in an International Friendly encounter.
There are also doubts over the availability of goalkeeper Sheldon Clarke who picked up a knock in the team’s last match.
However, Connection faces an even more severe situation as six of their players are abroad with the T&T senior football team, among them Jomal Williams, Shahdon Winchester, Alvin Jones, Daneil Cyrus, Hughtun Hector and Triston Hodge, while other regional players were summoned by their country for action in the Caribbean Cup qualifiers next week.
These include Gerard Williams and goalkeeper Julani Archibald of St Kitts/Nevis, Briel Thomas and Anfernee Frederick of Dominica, Jamal Charles (Grenada) and Dimitrie Apai (Suriname).
Connection coach Stuart Charles Fevrier faces another problem as a number of top players from his youth teams will also be unavailable as replacements—such as top Under-18 standouts Isaiah Hudson, Keston Julien, Kerron Mason and Isaiah Garcia, as well as 19-year-old Kori Cupid and Jabari Mitchell, all of whom are on the T&T Under-20 team preparing for the Caribbean U-20 qualifiers from June 15 to 19.
“We know they are missing a number of players,” said Gordon. “But W Connection will always be W Connection, no matter who they have available. Their style never changes and we expect a very difficult game because every game in the Pro League is difficult, no matter the opponents.”