W Connection start Champions League campaign in Couva; Central’s trip postponed

DIRECTV W Connection will begin their campaign for a eighth CONCACAF appearance on Wednesday February 24 when the “Savonetta Boys” host Dominican Republic team, Atlantico Futbol Club, from 7.45 pm in the second match of a double header at the Ato Boldon Stadium in Couva.

Photo: W Connection attacker Jomal Williams (right) dances around Deportivo Saprissa defender Andres Imperiale during 2015 CONCACAF Champions League action. (Courtesy Allan V Crane/Wired868)
Photo: W Connection attacker Jomal Williams (right) dances around Deportivo Saprissa defender Andres Imperiale during 2015 CONCACAF Champions League action.
(Courtesy Allan V Crane/Wired868)

Surinamese club, Inter Moengo Tapoe, and Guadeloupe outfit, Club Sportif Moulien, will kick off in the four team Caribbean Football Union (CFU) Club Championship group when they meet from 5.30 pm at the same venue.

The four teams will square off in a round robin tournament with matches on Friday and Sunday evening as well at the Ato Boldon Stadium. Only the winner will advance to the Caribbean semifinal round.

The two Caribbean finalists and third place team will secure the three qualifying berths available for the 2016/17 Scotiabank CONCACAF Champions League.


Once more, Pro League champions Bankers Insurance Central FC will have to do it the hard way.

Photo: Don Bosco FC left back Jimmy Sara (right) hauls Central FC attacker Jason Marcano back by his locks during a physical Caribbean Club Championship semifinal contest. (Courtesy Allan V Crane/Wired868)
Photo: Don Bosco FC left back Jimmy Sara (right) hauls Central FC attacker Jason Marcano back by his locks during a physical Caribbean Club Championship semifinal contest.
(Courtesy Allan V Crane/Wired868)

Last year, the “Couva Sharks” travelled to Guyana to book a place in the knock out stages before going on to defeat Connection for the 2015 Caribbean title. In 2016, the Sharks will go to Jamaica where they face hosts Montego Bay United and Cayman Islands club, Scholars International, with only the winner staying alive for the final four round.

Central, who are seeking only their second appearance at CONCACAF level, have had their own fixtures postponed, though, due to the Jamaica general elections, which takes place on Thursday February 25.

Connection has made four CONCACAF appearances in the Champions League era and three in its forerunner, the Champions Cup.

Tickets for football fans in Couva cost TT$40.

Photo: W Connection midfielder Jomal Williams (far left) jumps on top of teammate Kurt Frederick as they celebrate Frederick's opening goal against Deportivo Saprissa in 2015 CONCACAF Champions League action. (Courtesy Allan V Crane/Wired868)
Photo: W Connection midfielder Jomal Williams (far left) jumps on top of teammate Kurt Frederick as they celebrate Frederick’s opening goal against Deportivo Saprissa in 2015 CONCACAF Champions League action.
(Courtesy Allan V Crane/Wired868)

W Connection team: 1.Terrence Lewis (GK), 18.Julani Archibald (GK); 16.Alvin Jones (captain), 25.Daneil Cyrus, 3.Gerard Williams, 4.Maurice Ford, 5.Triston Hodge, 35.Keston Julien, 2.Kurt Frederick; 8.Briel Thomas, 46.Anferenee Frederick, 26.Paolo De La Guardia Alvarez, 13.Hughton Hector, 14.Andre Toussaint; 34.Jabari Mitchell, 10.Jomal Williams, 9.Shahdon Winchester, 12.Dimitrie Apai, 20.Jamal Charles, 43.Shirvone St Prix.

Coach: Stuart Charles-Fevrier

Photo: W Connection coach Stuart Charles-Fevrier. (Courtesy Allan V Crane/Wired868)
Photo: W Connection coach Stuart Charles-Fevrier.
(Courtesy Allan V Crane/Wired868)

CFU Club Championship


Group 1 

(Wednesday February 24)

Inter Moengo Tapoe vs Club Sportif Moulien, 5.30 pm, Ato Boldon Stadium;

W Connection FC vs Atlantico FC, 7.45 pm, Ato Boldon Stadium;

Photo: W Connection right back Shannon Gomez (left) tries to keep up with Santos Laguna winger Andres Renteria during 2015 CONCACAF Champions League action at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Port of Spain. (Courtesy Allan V Crane/Wired868)
Photo: W Connection right back Shannon Gomez (left) tries to keep up with Santos Laguna winger Andres Renteria during 2015 CONCACAF Champions League action at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Port of Spain.
(Courtesy Allan V Crane/Wired868)

(Friday February 26)

Atlantico FC vs Inter Moengo Tapoe, 5.30 pm, Ato Boldon Stadium;

W Connection FC vs Club Sportif Moulien, 7.45 pm, Ato Boldon Stadium;

Photo: W Connection utility player Alvin Jones (right) evades SAP FC midfielder Okeem Challenger during 2015 Caribbean Club Championship action. (Courtesy Sinead Peters/Wired868)
Photo: W Connection utility player Alvin Jones (right) evades SAP FC midfielder Okeem Challenger during 2015 Caribbean Club Championship action.
(Courtesy Sinead Peters/Wired868)

(Sunday February 29)

Club Sportif Moulien vs Atlantico FC, 4 pm, Ato Boldon Stadium;

W Connection FC vs Inter Moengo Tapoe, 6.30 pm, Ato Boldon Stadium;

Photo: Santos Laguna defenders Kristian Alvarez (centre) and Javier Abella (left) gesture at W Connection attacker Shahdon Winchester (right) while referee Baldomero Toledo looks on during 2015 CONCACAF Champions League action at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Port of Spain. (Courtesy Allan V Crane/Wired868)
Photo: Santos Laguna defenders Kristian Alvarez (centre) and Javier Abella (left) gesture at W Connection attacker Shahdon Winchester (right) while referee Baldomero Toledo looks on during 2015 CONCACAF Champions League action at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Port of Spain.
(Courtesy Allan V Crane/Wired868)

Group 3

(Dates to be confirmed)

Montego Bay United vs Scholars International, Montego Bay Sports Complex;

Central FC vs Scholars International, Montego Bay Sports Complex;

Montego Bay United vs Central FC, Montego Bay Sports Complex;

Photo: Central FC attacker Marcus Joseph (left) takes on a Comunicaciones player during CONCACAF Champions League action. (Courtesy Allan V Crane/Wired868)
Photo: Central FC attacker Marcus Joseph (left) takes on a Comunicaciones player during CONCACAF Champions League action.
(Courtesy Allan V Crane/Wired868)

Group 2 

Venue: Stade Sylvio Cator, Port-au-Prince, Haiti.

Teams: Don Bosco FC (host), La Gauloise (Guadeloupe), Somerset Cricket Club (Bermuda).

Photo: Comunicaciones attacker Emiliano Lopez (left) dribbles around Central FC goalkeeper Jan-Michael Williams (centre) while defender Marcelle Francois looks on. (Courtesy Allan V Crane/Wired868)
Photo: Comunicaciones attacker Emiliano Lopez (left) dribbles around Central FC goalkeeper Jan-Michael Williams (centre) while defender Marcelle Francois looks on.
(Courtesy Allan V Crane/Wired868)

Group 4 

Venue: Estadio Olimpico Felix Sanchez, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.

Teams: Club Atletico Pantoja (host), Arnett Gardens (Jamaica), America FC (Haiti), SV Notch (Suriname).

Photo: W Connection defender Maurice Ford (right) wrestles with a Montego Bay United attacker during the 2015 Caribbean Club Championship semifinals at the Ato Boldon Stadium, Couva. Ford was selected but then left out of the Under-23 squad to let in players with visas. (Courtesy Allan V Crane/Wired868)
Photo: W Connection defender Maurice Ford (right) wrestles with a Montego Bay United attacker during the 2015 Caribbean Club Championship semifinals at the Ato Boldon Stadium, Couva.
Ford was selected but then left out of the Under-23 squad to let in players with visas.
(Courtesy Allan V Crane/Wired868)

Final Round (venue to be determined)

(Friday April 29)

Winner Group 1 v Winner Group 4, semi-final 1;

Winner Group 2 v Winner Group 3, semi-final 2;

Photo: Central FC goal scorer Jean-Luc Rochford (front) and his teammates celebrate with the 2015 Caribbean Club Championship trophy. Looking on is then Central FC operations director Kevin Harrison (top left) and Bankers Insurance CEO Vance Gabriel (top centre). (Courtesy Allan V Crane/Wired868)
Photo: Central FC goal scorer Jean-Luc Rochford (front) and his teammates celebrate with the 2015 Caribbean Club Championship trophy.
Looking on is then Central FC operations director Kevin Harrison (top left) and Bankers Insurance CEO Vance Gabriel (top centre).
(Courtesy Allan V Crane/Wired868)

(May 1, 2016)

Loser SF1 v Loser SF2, third place play off;

Winner SF1 v Winner SF2, final.

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11 comments

  1. Central aren’t flying out this week again. Their group was postponed until March because of the General Elections. CFU actually made a wise decision.

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