Premier Top 8 ideal kick-off to season Chelsea boss Conte full of praise for his in-form midfielder Kante
EAST London Central LFA officially commences its long-awaited and highly anticipated 2017 football season this weekend at the North End Stadium with the fourth edition of the Mark Alexander-sponsored Premier Top 8 competition.
The quarterfinals will take place on Friday evening and Saturday while the semifinals and final are scheduled for Sunday.
Star of India were the inaugural 2014 Premier Top 8 winners after they beat Riverside on penalties in a thrilling final. Riverside, however, made amends by convincingly beating Pride of India 4-0 in the 2015 final. The Buffalo Flats-based blue and whites then retained the title in 2016 when they beat Seagulls 2-1 in the final.
On Friday evening at 6.30pm, Star of India face a tricky opening encounter against CC Lloyd-based Brothers of Peace. The star-studded Braelynbased green and whites will have their work cut out as Brothers of Peace will be unveiling some exciting new signings in this cup tie.
2016 Premier Top 8 runners-up Seagulls entertain Conquerors at 8pm and the reigning champions Riverside, who have won the Premier Top 8 twice, will be aiming for a hat-trick of titles and their fourth consecutive cup final appearance when they lock horns with arch-rivals Atlantic Spurs on Saturday at 11am.
Spurs club management Kevin Woodington and Luigi Shaw appeared confident that they would upset the Riverside apple cart as they have also reinforced their squad during the offseason. Reigning Premier League champions Swaraj square off against 2014 Premier Top 8 runners-up Pride of India in the main encounter at 12.30pm.
It will be an emotional cup tie for Swaraj as it will be their first fixture without the services of their inspirational fullback Nathan Malgas who was tragically killed two weeks ago.
“We will be going all out to win the trophy in honour of Nathan who has been a role model and ambassador of our club over the years,” Swaraj chairman Leonard Marillier said.
On Sunday, the winner of either Swaraj or Pride of India will face either Star of India or Brothers of Peace in the first semifinal at 11am and Riverside or Atlantic Spurs entertain either Seagulls or Conquerors in the second semifinal at 12.30pm.
The Premier Top 8 final is scheduled for 3.30pm.
A visibly excited Premier Top 8 sponsor Mark Alexander was looking forward to the upcoming event.
“I have been impressed with the standard of football displayed by the participants over the past three years, as well as the huge community support at these games. It is a privilege to be a part of this highly successful football structure and to be able to contribute towards community football development,” Alexander said. CHELSEA manager Antonio Conte joked he is struggling to find ways to improve N’Golo Kante after the France midfielder starred in his side’s 2-1 win at West Ham United.
Kante’s interception laid the foundation stone for Eden Hazard’s 25thminute opener at London Stadium on Monday and he harried his opponents from first minute to last.
Asked to sum up Kante’s display, Conte complained the former Leicester City midfielder had only completed 45 of the 50 passes he had attempted, only to then burst out laughing.
“I know that he made 50 passes and he made five mistakes. He has to improve on this,” said Conte, whose side re-established their 10-point lead at the top of the table.
“I’m joking, yes. I have to find one situation to tell him to improve. He’s playing very well. N’Golo is a really good player.
“He has great stamina, but also good quality. We are working to improve the quality. I’m pleased for him, but I think all my players played very well.”
Hazard put Chelsea ahead midway through the first half, coolly finishing off a razor-sharp break that started when Mark Noble gifted the ball to Kante.
Diego Costa added a second goal early in the second half, kneeing the ball in from close-range after Cesc Fabregas’s corner had flicked off West Ham midfielder Pedro Obiang’s head at the near post.
But Chelsea did not have things all their own way and had to weather sustained pressure from their hosts at the start and midway through the second half.
Chelsea had seen Liverpool, Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City chip away at their lead over the weekend and Conte said their display against West Ham demonstrated their mental fortitude.
“I think this period is tough because although there are only 11 games, for me 11 games are a lot,” said the Italian, a three-time Serie A champion as a manager with Juventu
“Now in this period it’s very important to live the pressure in the right way. Above all when you play the game after you know your opponents won the day before.
“I’m pleased for the commitment, for the right mentality of my players. Very focused.
“They showed me great will to win the game and to suffer in the first part of the first half, but stay compact because we didn’t concede great chances for West Ham to score.”
Asked if he had faith in his players not to blow their lead, Conte replied: “I trust them absolutely.”
Conte’s one criticism of his side was that they had not been “more clinical”, with the visitors’ failure to take more of their chances giving West Ham hope of mounting a comeback right until the end.
The home side eventually halved the deficit in stoppage time, Manuel Lanzini arrowing a shot into the bottom-left corner following a surge to the edge of the box by substitute Andre Ayew.
But West Ham manager Slaven Bilic, whose side remain in 11th place, accepted his team had been well beaten.
“We scored the goal too late,” said the Croatian.
“The game looks even. But every attack after 2-0, they looked really dangerous. They deserved to win.”
While there are 11 games still to go this season, Bilic is convinced the fans in attendance had seen the champions.
“They look very serious and I can see them staying on top with the quality they have and also how solid and concentrated they are,” he said. — AFP