Labor means hard work, well the FGSL have a ton of work to do this Labor Day weekend. Four games will be played this Sunday at Old Boys High Athletic Field. The most anticipated one is of course the International FGSL final between two juggernauts Grenada and Jamaica; the Supporters Cup will also start with Guyana taking on Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.
Trinidad and Tobago will be in a action as well as they will face Saint Lucia for the third place Int'l FGSL silverware. And not to forget, Atlanta Legends will play an exhibition match versus Unity F.C's over-35 team.
Here's a preview of the FGSL Labor Day games this weekend:
Int'l FGSL final: Powerhouses Grenada and Jamaica battle for the Int'l FGSL trophy
The last and certainly not the least game of the day will be the Int'l FGSL championship match between the speedy Grenadians and defensive powerhouse Jamaica at 7:30 p.m., which will be the second consecutive Int'l FGSL final played under floodlights.
The Spice Boyz won the title last year, besting Guyana 1-0, and owns the most Int'l FGSL trophy, winning the league three times in 2012, 2014 and in 2017, as mentioned.
Ex-Jamaica international star Jermaine Hue holds Grenada in high regard but expressed that his country has a bold and talented team.
"Yes, we have to give Grenada respect because they are the defending champs," Hue said. "We are Jamaica and we are a confident team with a lot of very good players that love to win championships. This is a game that we are going to take very seriously, a game that we must win."
The Reggae Boyz have one Int'l FGSL title to their name, winning the league in 2015. They're going in the final undefeated in the league with a 8-0-3 record and conceded the least goals, allowing five goals in 11 outings.
Jamaica clinched the final by cruising past Saint Kitts and Nevis 8-1 in the quarterfinals and slimming past Saint Lucia 1-0 in the semis after ending the regular season in second spot.
As for Grenada, they finished the regular season in first place by just one point over Jamaica with a 7-1-1 record and after enjoying a bye round in the quarterfinals they conquered Trinidad and Tobago 3-1 in the semis.
Last time the two teams faced in the Int'l FGSL the match ended 2-2. Grenada 23-year-old midfielder Shavon John-Brown, who also plays for the national team, shared that his side's pace and chemistry will be beneficial in breaking down The Reggae Boyz defense.
"I think my team's pace and chemistry will be very valuable because we know what Jamaica can bring to the table," John-Brown said, "they are one of the best the team in the league, lots of talent, so I'll just hope that on game day my team together with myself are up for the challenge and willing to go that extra mile."
Sunday's final will be the youngster's first final for his country at any level as he missed last season's championship match due to his collegiate season.
"I played in many finals before, but this one is a little different since it's my country I'm representing," John-Brown said. "I'm going out there to give everything I have in the tank, so that after the game win or lose I can say I did my best."
The 23-year-old netted in the semis against Trinidad and is the fifth top scorer with eight goals. Two more Grenadians with eyes for goals to watch out for in the final are Clive Murray, who leads the league in goals, tallying 11 and Marcus Julien who's second behind Murray with nine goals.
Supporters Cup: Guyana vs Saint Vincent and the Grenadines at 4:15 p.m.
The Supporters Cup will start this Sunday with a match-up between Guyana and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines at 4:15 p.m. The FGSL started the Supporters Cup last season due the lack of soccer competitions in Brooklyn after Labor Day.
Guyana manager Akintunde 'Riggit' Rudder is thrilled that his team will take part in the Supporters Cup.
"These cups add more exciting soccer for the players and most of all for the fans across the FGSL," he said.
"We the Guyana staff are very exited to participate in this Supporters Cup mainly to entertain our fans whom surely didn't get enough of us this season of the international league."
Riggit is also keen to pivot The Golden Jaguars to a successful Supporters Cup after losing in the quarterfinals of the Int'l FGSL to Saint Lucia 1-0.
"And yes, I'm eager to be very competitive after being out of the big four [of the international league]."
Guyana recently won a FGSL cup, the Players Cup, overpowering Saint Vincent 2-1 in the final.
About playing a rematch of the Players Cup versus Vincy Heat, Riggit said: "Saint Vincent is and was always highly respected by Guyana's squad so we know it's not an easy day at the office but we are up and looking forward for a great game."
Saint Vincent is also the runner up of the Supporters Cup, losing to Saint Lucia 1-0 in the final last year.
Int'l FGSL third place game: Trinidad and Tobago vs Saint Lucia at 5: 45 p.m.
Trinidad and Tobago will square up with Saint Lucia in the small final at 5:45 p.m. Trinidad fell to Grenada 3-1 in the semifinal while Saint Lucia lost to Jamaica 1-0.
Saint Lucia and T&T both ended the regular season with 19 points. The Soca Warriors got the best out of Saint Vincent 2-1 in the quarterfinals as St. Lucia vanquished last year's finalists Guyana 1-0.
Lucia recently knocked Trinidad out of the Players Cup on July 29th.
Exhibition match: Atlanta Legends vs Unity F.C Over-35 at 2:30 p.m.
Experience will kick off the Labor Day weekend games at Old Boys High Athletic Field as Atlanta Legends will go head to head with two-time FGSL club champions Unity F.C's over-35 squad at 2:30 p.m.
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