Bodden Town and Elite meet for season opener

(CNS): The new football season kicks off with the annualCharity Shield on Sunday with Grand Cayman rivals Bodden Town FC and Elite SC meeting for this important opener. The annual match puts the reigning Premier League Champions against the current FA Cup trophy holders. Based on last season’s statistics the match should be a high scorer. Between them Bodden Town and Elite put 102 of the 309 total goals in the Premier League last season in the back of the net. Led by striker Theron Wood, (left) with 28 Bodden Town had the highest goal scoring output with 61 goals.Meanwhile, Elite talisman Dwayne Wright scored 18 goals to lead his club, in accumulating 51 goals.

The clubs met three times in the 2013-2014 Premier League, Bodden Town scored a 3-1 victory in the opener and the teams played to a 1-1 draw on the second occasion. In the final match up Elite were comfortable 3-0 winners. In the semifinal of the FA Cup Elite got the better of Bodden Town 3-0 again and went on to claim the FA Cup trophy over Roma.

However that's all in the past and Sunday marks the start of a new season with both coaches having everything to play for and seeing this as an important fixture to win.

“This match is very important to set the trend for the season,” said Elbert Mclean of Bodden Town, who led the team to the Premier League title last season. “Bodden Town has trained seven weeks in the offseason, so expect to see a much fitter, faster, hungrier team that will be moving the ball faster.”

This is a rematch of the 2009 FA Cup Final when a young Bodden Town team came from behind to upset the then reigning Premier League Champs. Since the 2009 season Bodden Town has collected league titles at youth and senior levels. Coach Mclean said the recipe for success is simple.“Hard work, a good attitude and a good club structure guarantees success,” said the veteran coach.

Along with a solid youth programme. Bodden Town has promoted three teenagers from the junior set up to the senior team this season.

In West Bay, Elite Sports Club is coming off an uncharacteristic fifth place finish in the Premier League last season. But when Gregory Ebanks’ men ended last season with the FA Cup title they earned the right to compete for the Charity Shield.

“This is a one shot opportunity to win the first Cup of the season,” Ebanks said. “This sets the tone for the beginning of the season to start on a good note by competing well and winning the Charity Shield.”

Elite will be bolstered by the return home of midfielder Jermaine Wilson who recently completed his studies in England. Winning the Charity Shield would set Elite’s goals in motion for the new season, with the main of objective of competing in the 2015 Caribbean Club Championship.

“The ultimate goal is to win the league championship, it is very motivational to see that the monitory rewards have increased…Our primary goal is to get in the top three and aspire to play international competitions like the Caribbean Football Union this season,” Ebanks added.

Part proceeds from the Charity Shield will be donated to the Cayman Islands Red Cross.
Kickoff is 7 pm on Sunday at the T.E Mcfield Sports Complex. For more information log on to www.caymanfootball.com