Guyana’s Alpha United and Trinidad and Tobago’s Central FC will battle today – the ‘Sharks’ versus the ‘Hammers’ – in final Group One game in this year’s Caribbean Football Union (CFU) Club Championship at the Guyana National Stadium from 16:00 hrs.

Both teams, sitting at the helm of their respective country’s leagues this year defeated Suriname’s Inter Moengotapoe with Alpha United earning a 3 – 0 win and Central FC edging them 2 – 0 to set up today’s intriguing contest.

Alpha United holds a one goal advantage over their Trinidadian counterparts, leaving the ‘Sharks’ in a must win situation, while Coach Wayne Dover’s men only need to a draw to advance to the May 20 – 22 second round and a chance to represent the Caribbean at the CONCACAF Champions League like they did last year.

Coached by Former England International Terry Fenwick, Central FC who competes in the Trinidad and Tobago Pro-League has built a reputation of being one of the Island’s most feared teams.

With the likes of Willis Plaza, their goal scorer against Inter Moengotapoe, Ataulla Guerra, Akeem Benjamin, Jamal Jack and goalkeeper Jan-Michael Williams, Central FC’s star studded line-up, especially their attack, can pose some trouble for Alpha United.

“we wouldn’t give Central any respect for the fact of our share of success against TT ProLeague teams, beating T&T Defence Force when they were champions but that has past and gone, this is a new team, well organised as well so we’ll have to be very discipline” Dover told Chronicle Sport.

Alpha United had finished third in the 2011 CFU Club Championship and qualified for the Preliminary Round of the 2011– 2012 CONCACAF Champions League becoming the first club from Guyana to play in the CONCACAF Champions League.

In the playoff for third place, Alpha United created history by beating Trinidad and Tobago’s Defence Force on penalty kicks (4-3) after regulation and extra time failed to break the 1-1 deadlock.

“Alpha is a very good football team; they’ve got a number of well recognised players from around the region and they would be a different kettle of fish to what we played tonight (Friday). We’re expecting a tough game, they’ll be organized and I think it will be a very good game,” said Central FC Coach Fenwick.

The former Tottenham Hotspur defender pointed out that his club is a debutant at the CFU level, having only formed in 2012 but noted “CFU is a great opportunity for our players to gain experience and if we work to win the next game and go on to the finals then I think we could go all the way and then who knows.”

Alpha United will turn to its usual playmakers Gregory ‘Jackie Chan’ Richardson, who many Trinidadians still remember for his heroics against MLS side New England Revolution in the CONCACAF Champions League with Joe Public FC, Grenadian Kithson Bain, Daniel Wilson, Panamanian Manuel Vargas, Jamaican defender Kirk Duckworth and midfield player Konata Manning.

By Rawle Toney