Giants in KO battle

Ryon Jones, Gleaner Writer

The Flow Champions Cup will continue today and tomorrow with quarter-final matches that will feature three all-Premier League clashes, as only one Super League team, St James' Granville, advanced to this stage of the competition.

The most anticipated quarter-final matchup is to be played today between Premier League leaders Harbour View and fourth- place St Georges, at the Harbour View Mini Stadium, starting at 6 p.m.

The two teams have met on three occasions this season, with Harbour View coming away 2-0 and 3-1 winners, while the other ended in a 1-1 draw.

On a high

The Stars of the East will enter the game on a high after seizing sole leadership of the country's top league over the weekend, thanks to a 2-0 blanking of previous leaders Tivoli Gardens.

In the previous round of the Flow Champions Cup, Harbour View got by Rivoli United 2-1.

Harbour View's coach, Donovan Hayles, is hoping there will be no surprises, as his team enters the game confident, but cautious.

"We are entering the game confident, but with precaution. This is a knockout competition and knockout competitions hold surprises and we don't want to be surprised by St Georges," said Hayles.

"I am vying for the Premier League and this cup so while you might not see a lot of familiar faces, I don't think it will be a weakened team. We take every championship very serious and for me the Flow Champions Cup is the most prestigious knockout competition in the country," he added.

In St Georges' most recent league outing, they suffered a 1-0 home defeat to Rivoli United. They had previously booked their place in the quarter-finals of the nationwide knockout competition with a 1-0 win over Portmore United.

St Georges' coach, Braxton Hyre, is hoping his team can find the back of the net while keeping Harbour View off the scoresheet.

"We know that they (Harbour View) are a competent team but based on my assessment over the three games, I thought that we were just not scoring," said Hyre. "I thought that we gave them a good run but the thing is we weren't finishing, so I am hoping that we can finish and keep them off the scoresheet, because they scored in all three games against us."

Hyre added: "We will use the best of the players that are available because since the third round (of the Premier League) we have scaled down to around 22 players. We are taking this one very seriously, because this might be the last title for us to grab, so we are going all out for tomorrow's game."

The day's other game will be contested between Humble Lion and Waterhouse at the Effortville Community Centre, starting at 3 p.m.

Defending their title

Defending Flow Cup champions, Boys' Town, will resume their title defence tomorrow, when they travel to Elliston Wakeland Centre to do battle with Village United, also at 3 p.m.

The remaining match, also on tomorrow, will feature Granville, who will host Arnett Gardens at the Sam Sharpe Mini Ground at 3 p.m.

The eight remaining clubs are guaranteed at least $90,000 each, while the semi-final losers will receive $200, 000. The eventual winners will pocket $800, 000, with the runners-up receiving half of that amount.