Kwesi Mugisa, Staff Reporter
CARIB CEMENT will be looking to right the disappointment of last year when they take on the University of the West Indies (UWI) at the Cable and Wireless field in the final of the KSAFA Business House Division One competition at 3:30 p.m. today.
They are already half-way to making amends following their convincing 3-0 defeat of defending champions, The Gleaner in the semi-finals last week. The Gleaner downed them in last year's final.
Come today, they will be looking for a full redemption when they attempt to get by UWI and lift their first Business House Trophy since 2001.
ENCOURAGING ASPECTS
However, unlike the semi-final encounter, which saw them go into the game with a 3-1 preliminary round victory over The Gleaner, the cement company have been less successful against UWI and go into today's encounter with only a 1-1 draw to speak of from their match-up earlier in the season. They will, however, have a lot of encouraging aspects to draw confidence from headed into this final.
First of all, they have been undefeated all season and, second, since the draw against the UWI earlier in the season, they have managed to score at least three goals per game.
"We have to be very confident based on the fact that we have missed out on the last three finals, it has to be our time now," coach Paul Laidley said. "Our only loss for the season was a knockout game, so we can look at it from the angle that we have lost our one game for the season - the same thing happened last year, but it was the league game," he said.
SCORING OPPORTUNITIES
While their impressive record makes them favourites to win the title, don't count UWI out.
"We have been playing well all season and while creating a lot of scoring opportunities, we have just missed a lot of goals," coach Neville Walters said. "But, our defence has definitely been holding its own.
"We are going in as the underdogs, so there is no pressure on us. Today
will be an overall team effort," he said.
The winner of this game will join Division Two winners JNBS and Port Authority, winners of the knockout competition, in a play-off to decide who will meet the winner of the St. Ann's Business House competition in the Champion of Champions game.
