CFU Champions League …
… as local club champs Alpha tackle GDF
KEEN and exciting rivalry is anticipated this afternoon at the GCC ground, as local club champions Alpha United tackle the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) in a fixture of the Caribbean Football Union’s Champions League. Both teams will be seeking a victory this afternoon in an effort to qualify for the second round of the competition and this is why football fans and enthusiasts should not miss this afternoon’s match which is scheduled for 16:00 h.
To date, Suriname’s Walking Boys have already qualified for the second round to be played in Puerto Rico next month, having defeated GDF 2-0 on Friday last at the same venue, then were held to a 1-1 draw against Alpha `The Hammer’ United on Sunday, resulting in three points for the win against GDF and one point for the draw against Alpha United.
GDF are pointless and will be seeking a win to make it to the second round, while Alpha have one point from their drawn game on Sunday and a draw this afternoon will see them through to the second round.
Based on reports, playing against Suriname’s number two rated team Walking Boys on Friday last, the local soldiers were outmanoeuvred and failed to find their target on a couple of occasions, but the Dutch side, on their numerous counter-attacks, found their target twice.
However, the army’s coach Marlon Washington told Chronicle Sport his charges are ready to battle their way to victory against Guyana’s leading club side today and assured that football fans will be given their money’s worth.
Washington said his charges have been working very hard for the past two months and today is the day for them to execute whoever comes into their way. “We’re definitely going after Alpha today, since only two teams will qualify for the second round and Walking Boys have already qualified for that round with their win against us and a draw versus Alpha.”
Originally, GDF were to travel to Puerto Rico to play against host club Bayamon FC and Systems 3 of St Vincent and the Grenadines, but seven of their players were denied US visas which resulted in Group `D’ host Alpha United and the Guyana Football Federation making representation for them to be included in Group `D’ as Dominica’s Bath Estate failed to arrive for the Guyana leg of the competition.
Meanwhile, Alpha United head coach Wayne `Wiggy’ Dover is bursting with confidence that his team will get past GDF easily.
He said in Sunday’s game versus Walking Boys, his charges did not stick to their game plan. If they had, they would have beaten the side that thrashed them 5-1 in the 2009 version of the championship last year in Suriname.
For today’s game, GDF’s attack will be led by strikers Peter Parks and Delroy Deen with midfield support expected from team captain Warren Gilkes, Marlon Benjamin, Kevin Lewis, Eusi Phillips and Sherwyn Seaforth.
The defence will be marshalled by Selwyn Isaacs, Ryan Adolph and Ike Garraway, while Delon Younge will perform duties between the uprights.
Responding for Alpha United will be custodian Ronson Williams, Howard Lowe along with Kelvin McKenzie, Anthony Harding and Brian Baker in defence, midfielders Philbert Moffatt, Shawn Bishop, Edison Gomes and Dwain Jacobs and strikers Dwight Peters and Elton Brown who scored his team’s lone goal on Sunday.
The team’s bench is also a talented and experienced one that includes the likes of Quincy Madramootoo, Chris Comacho and Leon Grumble.