Alpha United favoured to win

Jan 27, 2011 Sports

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By Rawle Welch

Alpha United must start as the clear favourite to cart off the $500,000 first prize on offer in this year’s NaMilCo Football Festival which is set to conclude tomorrow, at the Tucville ground.
The new date follows two previously postponed dates due to the inclement weather which had the ground waterlogged and unprepared to host such an important double-header.
Arguably the best team in the country, Alpha United, winners of the recently staged Annual K&S Football Extravaganza and familiarly referred to as the ‘Manchester United’ in local circles has produced consistent performances throughout the competition and their opponent Santos will certainly start as the underdogs.
The reigning Super League ‘kings’ on paper appears far too superior both technically and tactically to be daunted by the noticeable improvements Santos have made over the past year.
Their margin of victories have been overpowering, while Santos’ have been marginal, but in football, all that goes out the window and it is simply a case of which team plays better on the day.
Alpha’s Shevane Seaforth displayed prolific form before the tournament was stopped and he will be looking to regain that momentum in tomorrow’s final, while the other players that harmonize their strike force Shawn Bishop, Dwain Jacobs and Dwight Peters are as potent as any in the country.
Then there is the resolute backline marshalled by Captain Howard Lowe that also includes the high energy Abassi McPherson and Kelvin McKenzie in addition to last stop Ronson Williams.
Immediately one could understand why they haven’t conceded many goals over the past year.
They are indeed a formidable resistance and it will take some amount of hammering to penetrate and the prediction is that Santos quality of firepower seems far less intimidating to initiate a dramatic collapse.
However, apart from the technical aspects of sports, there is also the element of destiny and history is replete of such occurrences.
Santos, a team that was plagued by defections and other negative distractions which seemed to have affected them forever is still in transition, but recent results indicate that they are about to turn the corner and declaring them unworthy of being finalists could be perilous for those desirous of wagering bets.
They’ve certainly come of age and even though the results will show that they managed to scrape through a few skirmishes, a date with destiny could find their favour.
Under a new management and coach, Santos named after a familiar Brazilian team looked positive in a recent fixture against the highly touted Pele team, who eventually beat them on penalty kicks after regulation and extra time failed to separate the teams.
Players the calibre of Kester Jacobs, who netted the goal against Fruta Conquerors that saw them through to the final, will have to bear the burden of their attack and ultimate quest for victory.
The defence has been a combination of being both steady and ragged at times and Coach Denzil Thompson will be cognizant of the fact that Alpha is a team that usually takes advantage of opportunities that are provided to score.
He will no doubt be imploring on them to be a cohesive unit and not play with a singular mentality to create chances for the opposition.
Whatever, the coaches decide whether on strategy or their final starting line-up, fans could very well be in for a treat and a final befitting of the total prize monies on offer.
The playoff for third place should also be an interesting affair and hosts Fruta Conquerors will be aiming for the $100,000 prize, while Sunburst Camptown will be harbouring similar thoughts.
Camptown, who are the defending champions lost to a more superior Alpha unit, but should find the youthful Conquerors a bit easier to handle, especially with only three players with much experience in Gerald Gritten, Lester Peters and Delon Williams, while Trevon Lythcott, a player with tremendous heart might find the likes of Reshawn Sandiford, Troy Prescod and Nigel Codrington too much to handle.
Conquerors on the other hand is presently depending on a relatively inexperienced frontline to take them over the line, but as was witnessed in their semi-final clash with Santos, Vurlon Mills, who has shown tremendous form very early in the season, Pernell Schultz and company as skilful as they are, seemed to suffer stage fright on the big occasion.
Having said that, however, and the final out of their grasp, they could very well display the sublime skills that all the pundits have identified will make them future stars.
There is no shortage of ability in the Conquerors line-up, but with so little experience available, getting past a well drilled Camptown side could prove to be an arduous task.
A full house is anticipated to converge at the Tucville facility to witness what is being touted as two riveting matches to climax a well organised competition.
Among the many sponsors are 2J’s General Store of Regent Street, Junior’s Jewellery of Robb Street, Bayridge Taxi Service of Sheriff Street, Global Technology, Banks DIH Ltd, Oasis Water Company and GT&T.
Prizes will be awarded for the Highest Goalscorer, Best Goalkeeper, Most Valuable Player and two players will be given computer scholarships.
Kick-off time is 18:00 hrs.

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