BT, Lions in big clash

Robert Bailey, Gleaner Writer

Defending champions Boys' Town and Humble Lion will square off in today's final of the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF)/Flow Champions Cup knockout competition at the Anthony Spaulding Sports Complex starting at 6 p.m.

The Red Brigade are the firm favourites to retain their title, following an exciting 4-3 win over archrivals Arnett Gardens in the semi-finals.

Andrew Price, coach of Boys' Town, who have only conceded three goals in the competition so far, believes his team can get the job done.

"We intend to outscore our opponents and try not let them score and this is what we are going to do and so we are going to have to work both sides of the field and once we take the game to them they will be forced to defend for the majority of the game," said Price.

"This is one game and we are the defending champions and so I think that this is enough motivation for my team to go out there and play some positive football, so that we can retain our title," Price said. "We haven't lost a game in the last two years in the Flow Champions Cup and we don't want to do that in this final," he said.

Price added: "We are pretty confident because we have been there before and so we have to go out there and show why we are the champions." Price noted: "We have not played a home game in this championship this season, and that shows that the club has good mettle and good resilience to have won all our games away from Collie Smith Drive."

Boys' Town, who are out of contention for the Premier League title, will rest their hopes on their leading striker Renae Lloyd who has scored three goals in the tournament, along with last year's Most Valuable Player Peter Keyes, captain Michael Campbell and George Vernal.

Meanwhile, the Clarendon-based Humble Lion, now fighting to avoid relegation in the Premier League, secured their berth in the final by beating St Georges 1-0 in the semi-finals. They also recorded wins over Waterhouse in the quarter-finals and Tivoli Gardens in the second round.

Christopher Bender, coach of Humble Lion, said his team is looking forward to an exciting match.

"We are not nervous but they are a bit anxious," Bender said. "My job is to control this and work on the mental aspect of the players."

Committed

Bender added: They are defending champions, they have not lost a game in two seasons in this competition and so we are very much aware of the threat they bring and so we will have to come with our best game and everybody has to be one hundred per cent committed and focus on this task."

He noted: "The team is very confident based on our achievements so far in the league because we have beaten some of the top teams this season and I believe that the team that makes the least mistakes will win."

To achieve victory, Humble Lions will look to their leading marksman Kimroy Davis who has netted three goals in the competition, along with national goalkeeper Shawn Sawyers, forward Denzil Watson and midfielder Zico Herrera.