DIGICEL Cup Finals ’10’ …
… T&T vs Cuba, Gren. v Mart.
OVER the next ten days the Region’s top eight nations will be engaged in the finals of the Caribbean’s Premier football Tournament – Digicel Caribbean Cup – to be staged in the French colony of Martinique.
The opening act of the Bigger, Better Caribbean Football Finals will invilve the most successful nation in Caribbean football, Trinidad & Tobago, as they confront the only side to reach the last four in the previous three editions of the Digicel Cup – Cuba.
The second game, to be played at the Stade Pierre-Aliker in Fort-de-France, will feature the home side against last year’s losing finalists, Grenada.
Both matches of Group ‘H’ are expected to be close and should set the tone for 16 entertaining encounters that will climax on December 5 with the Championship game. Group ‘I’ will get cracking tomorrow with Guyana opposing Guadeloupe in the first match and in the nightcap, Cup holders Jamaica tackle Antigua & Barbuda.

Group ‘I’ as in Ice

None of the other three sides in this group should pose any real threat to the defending champions Jamaica while Guadeloupe look the safest bet for finishing second.

JAMAICA
Champions – 91, 98, 05 and 08
Runners-up – 92 and 93
The ‘Reggae Boyz’, as they are more worldy known, are ready to defend their title, despite a tense situation on the eve of departure last Wednesday when it was announced that funds were not available to send the team to Martinique.
Head Coach and former World Cup star Theodore ‘Tappa’ Whitmore thinks the attitude of the players is ideal going into such a major finals and reported that ‘the Boyz are anxious to get on with the action on the field”.
The team will be led by the big defender, Shavar Thomas, and also boasts of six MLS players including forward Omar Cummings who helped Colorado Rapids win the 2010 MLS Cup.
Luton Shelton, who is based in Norway and was a key component in the inauguaral Championship victory five years ago, will also add to the attack.
U.K.-based Keammar Daley is expected to play a pivotal role in the midfield if Jamaica is to secure their fifth title and make ‘Tappa’ the first winner as a player and as a coach. Whitmore says Jamaica will be under pressure to retain the Digicel Cup, but ‘The Boyz’ are ready to defend their crown as Kings of Caribbean football.

GUADELOUPE
Champions – None
Runners-up – None
‘Les Gwadas Boys’ as they are called gave a perfect performance in the Preliminary Round with wins against St Kitts, Puerto Rico and Grenada en route to the finals.
Guadeloupe have been consistent in the last two Digicel Cup tournaments,reaching the semis and going on to the CONCACAF Gold where they reached the quarters and the semis. They are always a force to be reckoned with in Caribbean football and have a rich football history. The first hurdle at the finals is against a side they have lost to on both previous meetings, Guyana. Captain Stephane Auvray and coach Roger Sainot think ‘Les Gwada Boys’ are ready to claim their first Caribbean Championship.
A lot of their players have had exposure playing in France and are technically sound. Their second game against Jamaica could very well prove their worth as a contender or pretender.

ANTIGUA & BARBUDA
Champions – None
Runners-up – None
This is their fourth finals appearance and if one is to go by the sentiments expressed by Manager Fernando Abraham then a new Caribbean Champion will be crowned on December 5.
According to the Island’s former national captain, ‘This is Antigua’s time to be crowned football Champions of the Caribbean’.
In the Preliminary qualifying competition the Antiguans did not look too convincing in advancing to the finals with two draws and a win playing at home.
The side is one full of experienced players and in Peter Byers they have a quality match-winner. Two years ago Byers was the leading scorer in the T&T Pro league for Jabloteh and with 18 goals from 27 games for Antigua his performance could determine the side’s fate.
Forward Gayson Gregory who also had a stint in T&T is another top goal-getter and match-winner with 27 goals from 47 caps. Head Coach Derreck Edwards is optimistic about the team making it to the last four.

GUYANA
Champions – None
Runners-up – None
Guyana’s chances of seriously challenging for the championship were hit hard just before departing for the Finals when two of their better players opted out of the side.
Both JP Rodrigues and Sean Cameron are U.S.-born and play for Miami FC. Their untimely withdrawal has left all baffled and wondering what could have caused such actions and only time will tell how well Coach Wayne Dover and his charges could overcome and prevail. Guyana are the only side among the eight finalists to have played from the Preliminary first round and while they were helped into the finals by T&T beating Haiti 4-0 they were expected to be worthy contenders.
The absence of the sound technical skills and tactical knowledge of Rodrigues and Cameron is indeed a blow to any chances Guyana may have had of reaching the last four. Thirty-year-old Nigel ‘Powers’ Codrington, who has the distinction of scoring the most goals (11) by a player in any one tournament when he exploded in 2007, has been recalled and somehow there is still room in the squad for the 37-year-old Charles Pollard. How long he could hold up in the defence will be exposed.
The team has been beset by inadequate preparation due to lack of funds and national support despite being the 3rd-ranked side in the Region.