THE Marchand Football Grounds will come alive as early from 4:00 p.m. today with three exciting football matches, but all eyes will be on the final encounter scheduled for 8:00 p.m. as the team who will claim the final spot in the 16 for the Blackheart/St. Lucia Football Association Knockout Football Tournament will be decided
The play off final features two teams that have been in the tournament proper before, the 2011 champions Anse la Raye and 2008 semi finalist Mon Repos. Anse la Raye were last in the tournament proper in 2012 when they were drubbed by Gros Islet 7-1 to go out as defending champions and have not been back in the tournament since. They have been close to a return but have lost in successive play offs to Babonneau in 2013 and La Clery in 2014.
Mon Repos, on the other hand will be in their second consecutive play off final after losing to La Clery in the final last year at the Soufriere Mini Stadium.
Both teams will want victory in this evening’s encounter to book their places among the big 16 teams which will participate in this year’s tournament.
Before the play off final three teams which have lifted the Blackheart Trophy before, and a former national inter district FA Cup champion will be on show as two warm up promotional matches will be played.
From 4:00 p.m. the reigning Blackheart Knockout Champions Canaries will take on the 2013 Blackheart Champions Gros Islet in what is expected to be a much anticipated clash between two of the top Inter district teams on the island. Gros Islet are the reigning Vizions / Michel’s Electrical Super league champions as well.
From 6:00 p.m. 1997, 2006 and 2009 Blackheart Champions and four time Blackheart Finalist Mabouya Valley will come up against Marchand, a former SLFA, FA Cup inter district champion.
This evening’s matches are expected to be a prelude to the 2015 Blackheart Knockout Football Tournament set to kick off September 19 at The Beausejour Cricket Ground. Matches will be played at the Beausejour Cricket Ground, the Soufriere Mini Stadium and the Phillip Marcellin Grounds in Vieux Fort.