Its crunch time in the Scotiabank/Pepsi Football Schools Tournament and respective teams will be looking to secure semi-final spots today at the Ministry of Education ground, Carifesta Avenue as intense rivalry continues.
A crucial male game will be played between School of the Nations and Tutorial High from 10:00hrs. This match will decide the fate of the two teams. Presently, School of the Nations, 12 points are ahead of Tutorial, 10 points.
Assistant coach of Tutorial High School, Kirk Moses told Stabroek Sport yesterday that his players have been training intensely for three days a week since their last game. Moses said: “It (the match) is actually what we call do-or-die.”
He said head coach Andel Bethune’s over-time work with the dedicated players should allow them to win today’s game against Nations.
“I hope they will go out and execute everything. We had a meeting yesterday (Thursday) with the players,” the assistant coach stated. A draw for Nations will place them into the semis but a win for Tutorial will put them on 13 points with bragging rights into the semi-finals. The winner of this match will have an encounter with the defending champions, Lodge Secondary tomorrow.
North Georgetown Secondary will play their final game in the tournament against Lodge Secondary. A win for North Georgetown will not be enough for them to qualify since North Georgetown only has nine points.
Bishops’ High School will also have their last showing in the tournament and will play Charlestown Secondary. Charlestown is likely to top Group B ahead of Christ Church if they win.
However, a defeat would place them in a runner-up position. Both teams are on 12 points but Christ Church has a better goal difference.
Meanwhile, Tutorial and Christ Church will clash in a female game. Once Tutorial wins this match they will advance to the final ahead of Charlestown who are on five points. New Campbellville Secondary has already qualified with 10 points.
Moses was confident that his female team (Tutorial) will pull all the stops in ensuring a resounding victory.
He said: “I am quite certain the girls will come out victorious. We have a strong team and they should come out on top,” he assured.
The male semi-finals will take place tomorrow.
