Alpha confident of upsetting defending champs

May 24, 2011 Sports

Getting warm for the task at hand, Alpha United players do some laps at the Stadium yesterday before their tactical session. (Franklin Wilson photo)

By Franklin Wilson

The history books are about to be further enhanced when the semifinals, third place and final of the Caribbean Football Union Club Championship Cup takes place in Guyana tomorrow and Friday at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence.
Alpha ‘The Hammer’ United, the first local club to advance to the semifinals of Caribbean’s flagship club tournament, were selected as hosts of this final leg which will see the winners of the semifinals as well as the winner of the third place game advancing to the CONCACAF Club Champions Cup.
Preparations have been gradual and consistent for the top local club side and now it is crunch time for ‘The Hammer’ to fall hard on their opponents. First up they take on the formidable defending champions Puerto Rico Islanders in the second semi tomorrow evening at the Stadium, the first semi features Trinidad and Tobago’s top side Defence Force and Haiti’s Tempete FC from 18:00hrs.
Yesterday at the Stadium, Kaieteur Sport caught up with Head Coach Wayne ‘Wiggy’ Dover and one of his Assistants, Jamaican, Carlton Dennis.Dover said that his charges are very relaxed and confident ahead of the most important game of their careers at this level to date.

Debriefing Time!!! Puerto Rico Islanders in a huddle with the Technical staff in center pitch last evening at the Stadium ahead of their all important semifinal against Alpha United tomorrow evening at the same venue. (Franklin Wilson photo)

“We have worked hard for a number of weeks and it is now time for the players to show off what they have been doing. We have worked really hard on a number of key areas which have been a spot of bother in the past and the Technical staff and I believe that we will be victorious on the night. We are not fazed by our opponents, they are the defending champs but we believe that we have what it takes to take that title.”
Alpha have shored up their attack with the inclusion of a number of players who have played with the club before and Dover believes that their presence have created a different atmosphere which makes it much more competitive to get into the team.
“I’m very happy to have a situation like this where we can get the best out of the players so come Wednesday {tomorrow} we will be starting with the best possible team against the Islanders.”
Jamaican Dennis told Kaieteur Sports that he is excited with the squad he has seen so far.
“We played a warm up game on Sunday evening which we won and I was pleased with the overall performance of the team and I think if they listen to the instructions and follow the team plan they will do very well.” Dennis has been in the coaching business for many years with Santos FC in Jamaica would have won many tournaments whilst there. He has also worked with the National grid in his homeland.
He acknowledged that all the teams are quality teams but Alpha have to ensure that they do the right thing on game day and would get the result.