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Multiple winners do battle in final four

There will no holds barred when FA Cup giants North Village and PHC Zebras step out on to the pitch at Wellington Oval tomorrow to challenge for the right to advance to April?s final.

And given both clubs? rich winning tradition in the 49-year-old competition, local football fans might be in store for a real treat as the two Premier Division outfits go head-to-head with a spot in the season-ending showpiece at the National Sports Centre on the line.

And while Zebras remain deadlocked with Somerset Trojans for the most FA Cup wins (nine), and are considered perennial giants, Village too have a proud winning history dating back to 1977-78 when they defeated Zebras 3-1 to lay claim to a maiden FA Cup crown.

Village also have a higher winning percentage over Zebras in the competition, having captured seven titles in eight appearances in the final with PHC hoisting their nine championships from 17 appearances.

The Reds have also appeared in four of the last five FA Cup finals, emerging victorious on three occasions including back-to-back titles in 2002 and 2003.

Zebras haven?t reached the final since their last triumph over last year?s champions Dandy Town 13 years ago.

But way before either club can even begin focussing on the final they must first find a way of getting by the other in tomorrow?s semi-final which promises to be an intriguing battle in the East End.

And despite getting the better of Village twice this season, and the Reds? midweek league loss to Trojans, Zebras might find their opponents ? who seem to elevate their game in cup ties ? a tough nut to crack.

Zebras and Village are also scheduled to meet in the Friendship Trophy semi-finals.

Village struggled against Trojans in their previous outing with key players Jemieko Jennings and Kofi Dill out through suspension while striker Mackie Crane was also noticeably absent from the Reds? lineup.

However, Village are expected to be at full strength tomorrow with Dill and Jennings eligible to play while Jennings? cousin, Kevin, could be given a role to play alongside captain Ralph Bean Jr. in attack.

But in any case, the Reds will have to pull out all the stops to halt a galloping Zebras squad dead in their tracks.

Zebras defeated Village 2-0 last October at Southampton Oval and more recently 3-0 on the Reds? home turf at Bernard Park.

And like their opponents, PHC will also be at full strength.

In Tokia Russell, PHC have a pillar of strength in defence along with the industrious Robert Richardson. But it is in attack where Zebras are most lethal with the likes of Omar Shakir, Kevin Lambe, Antwon Russell and Jahnai Raynor, each capable of producing the goods in terms of breaching a Reds? defence again, expected to be marshalled by influential player/coach Kentoine Jennings.

Tomorrow?s Zebras versus Village clash is to be preceded by the Women?s FA Cup semi-final contest between cup holders Lady Cougars and Somerset Cricket Club Hurricanes.

Meanwhile, Bermuda Football Association announced yesterday that, apart from players and team officials, parking of all vehicles inside the grounds at Wellington Oval is prohibited.

Instead, nearby Mullet Bay Park has been designated for parking for the general public.