Football: X-Roads, PHC, Hood Picks Of First Half
[Written by Patrick Bean]
A remarkable feature of the first half of the soccer season has been the emergence of X-Roads Warriors as a legitimate contender for the Premiership crown, generally regarded and stated as the benchmark for greatest success on the local arena of play.
Based in the non-traditional – at least among modern era – and nondescript soccer enclave of Devil’s Hole and vicinity, and taking within their training grounds at Warrior’s Field, X-Roads have found the formula to compete on a level that has at first surprised, but now been emphasized their real might and combined desire to become champions.
Their impact on opponents and the division has increased exponentially from a year ago when they only just escaped relegation, placing eighth in the 10-team league with a 6-10-2 [won-loss-draw] season record. League format dictates that the bottom pair be forced – relegated – to compete the next year at least among the lower First Division.
They are not a pretty team in style, but they are ruthlessly efficient in manner and duty to team concepts as laid down by their intense but soft spoken coach Fareed el Karfa. Last year’s season of strain within the development and adaptation to a higher level of play is now reaping dividends for Warriors, who have also attracted a boisterous small army of followers which they carry as their 12th man.
Only twice have Warriors endured defeat this season in the nine matches that constitute the first half and stand third in the standings at 19 points, just three behind league leaders and defending champions PHC [22 points], and two points behind Robin Hood [21 points], their conquerors on Sunday last – PHC also defeated X-Roads in regular season play.
“The losses we had against both of these teams we were very unlucky,” said el Karfa, speaking to Bernews following the Robin Hood match at Garrison Field. “We lost neither with a big score, things were tight and simply did not go in our favour, but nothing will change, we will continue playing our game.”
Also speaking on the day with Bernews was Antwan Russell, the mercurial talent and leader of Robin Hood, who unlike X-Roads have been no surprise this year after coming in as runner-up last season and starting as clear and announced contenders to the Zebras fortune, particularly based upon their 2017-2018 season record of 12-3-3.
With many teams welcoming the Christmas break as a time to rest and recharge Russell said his wish was for more football for the holidays.
“We’re in the Friendship [Trophy], so we’re not looking for a Christmas break we want to play over the whole period,” said Russell, who with his team-mates has already claimed the Dudley Eve Trophy as the first major piece of silverware on offer. “We’re looking to add more and fight for every trophy, we’re not giving anything away, we want everything.”
Hood are alive in all remaining Bermuda Football Association league and cup competitions, including the FA Cup, and are chief contenders for the treasured triple crown of modern and traditional basis – traditional being the combined prevalence in winning the Friendship, FA and League.
However, for both X-Roads, Robin Hood and all who’d venture there is the foreboding specter of the black and white Zebras – fleet footed, agile and most often proven as obstacles to the castle’s trophy case.
