San Juan Jabloteh head coach Keith Jeffrey predicts the people of Santa Cruz will produce one of the biggest crowds in recent Digicel T&T Pro League, one that could pale the record turnout at the Morvant Recreation Ground, Park Street, Morvant.
Jeffrey will lead his side against W Connection in a top-of-the-table clash from 6 pm this afternoon, when for the first time in the history of the Pro League, the Brian Lara Recreation Ground, Sam Boucaud Road, Lower Santa Cruz will host top flight football.
The Santa Cruz venue is the latest community-based location to host Pro League action after the Morvant Recreation Ground, which currently boasts the best supporter turnout averaging between 2,500 and 3,000, and the Naparima College, Lewis Street, San Fernando and Barataria Recreation Grounds.
“It’s long overdue,” admitted the Jabloteh coach, who qualified the San Juan Kings for next year’s Concacaf Champions League qualifiers by finishing runners-up in the Pro League last season.
“We can’t go wrong with Santa Cruz. I know what Santa Cruz can offer. Santa Cruz is a football and cricket community; it’s a sporting community.”
Jabloteh is currently one spot behind W Connection in third on the standings, with both sides on 16 points, three points behind leaders and two-time defending champions Central FC.
“It’s a good billing, just right for the people of Santa Cruz,” added Jeffrey. “We will surpass what Morvant had.
The people of Santa Cruz are saying they intend to bring more than 3,000 on Friday, so it could be in the region of 3,500-4,000 or more. That’s the kind of 12th-man advantage we will have over W Connection.”
Jabloteh have five wins, one draw and one loss after seven league games this term, like Connection who have a better goal-difference, and Jeffrey is targeting nothing less than three points against the visiting Savonetta Boys.
“It’s so important that we maintain being a top club by keeping in the top two,” he said.
“And to be in the top two we must be able to beat Connection twice, and Central twice, and Friday is the start of the ambition.
“It’s all about three points, but we expect a hard game. They W Connection is into some form, they are on a high and will be coming for points. But they also know we have been doing well also.”
Although thrilled to play in Santa Cruz, Jeffrey hopes, through the support of the Government and Local Corporation, Jabloteh, a club formed in 1974, can return to the Bourg Mulatresse Ground, which unlike the Barataria and Brian Lara Recreation Grounds, won’t have intrusion during the cricket season.
“It’s one of the ground where it all started,” the Jabloteh coach explained. “It’s the area we designated and want to go back to. Bourg Mulatresse is the most centralised area to be Jabloteh’s home. It’s easy access for people from Lower Santa Cruz, Upper Santa Cruz, Maraval, Barataria, San Juan and all surrounding areas.”
“It’s also the hometown of our most loyal supporters, most former Jabloteh players, and one of the founding fathers of the Pro League (and longstanding Jabloteh chairman), Jerry Hospedales.”
Jeffrey said it would be the fitting swan song for Hospedales, who currently serves as advisor to the Ministry of Finance and has served all Governments in the financial sector.
“Every time Hospedales talks, he always finish off with the Bourg Mulatresse Ground. Fix the ground in his honour. I know it will make him proud.
“He is a pioneer in football in T&T. Hospidales and Wilfred Espinet (one of Jabloteh’s Directors) are the pioneers of the Pro League,” ended Jeffrey.
On Sunday in the First Citizens Cup semifinals at the Ato Boldon Stadium, Couva, Defence Force faces Morvant Caledonia United from 4pm followed by Police FC against Ma Pau Stars two hours later.