Cecoy Robinson says he and his PHC Zebras team-mates are up for their title defence against Robin Hood in the season opening Charity Cup.

Premier Division champions PHC and FA Cup champions Hood will lock horns in the annual season curtain raiser for the third straight year at Goose Gosling Field tomorrow, beginning at 8pm.

“We always try to stamp our authority and are in it to win so we are just going to put our best foot forward and try and get the job done,” Robinson, the PHC captain, said.

“While we recognise it is the first game of the season, it is also a rival game that can set the tone for the season, as far as having a mental one-up on the opponent, because obviously we are the top two teams on the island.”

PHC won the Charity Cup for the second straight year and seventh overall after edging Hood 2-1 at Bernard Park last year and are now on the verge of achieving an impressive hat-trick of titles in the annual match pitting the league and FA Cup champions against each other.

While he is optimistic that his team can achieve their objective, Robinson admits that they have their work cut out against a Hood side who will also be looking to secure early season bragging rights.

“We have beaten them a few times in this particular trophy and other trophies at that,” Robinson added. “So I’m pretty sure they are looking to come and make a statement and we can’t allow them to make a statement on us. We have to fight for it.”

PHC claimed a record eleventh league title last season, finishing four points ahead of second-place Robin Hood, who won a second straight FA Cup after defeating X-Roads 3-2 at the National Stadium.

Tomorrow’s match will be Robert Bean’s first in charge as PHC’s coach after replacing Scott Morton, who stepped down in the summer to concentrate on his role as a Bermuda assistant coach.

Robinson said Bean has made a seamless transition to his new role having served as an assistant coach of Morton, who won seven trophies during his three seasons at the helm.

“He (Bean) worked with Morty (Morton) so it’s not much that has really changed,” Robinson added. “He has brought his own ideas into it with him and Coe Trott (assistant coach Winston Trott Jr) working alongside of him together.

“They have their own thoughts and ideas and it’s a matter of blending the two together to come out with the best product.”