Devonshire Cougars could be without their number one ?keeper Ricardo Brangman for Saturday?s Martonmere Cup final clash with PHC Zebras at Wellington Oval.

It is understood a planned family vacation has now clashed with Saturday?s match, making Brangman unavailable for team selection.

But, according to sources, team officials are to meet with the player tonight over the possibility of having the ?keeper reconsider travelling abroad for the weekend.

?This is one of the issues that we will discuss at tonight?s meeting because obviously Ricardo is a big part of our team,? a club spokesperson told

?But one way or the other we will have someone in goal.?

Cougars? number two goalie Dyke Lawrence transferred from the club over the off-season while the versatile Lovintz Tota is presently recovering from injury.

That aside, Cougars? cup preparations have now shifted into top gear as the 2001-02 Martonmere champions go in search of a fifth major domestic title in three years.

?We should be at full strength,? the club spokesperson added. ?And as far as I?m concerned that?s the most important thing for us at the moment.?

Cougars edged Zebras in the 2004-05 Friendship Trophy Final to avenge a 1-0 loss to PHC in the same competition 32 years earlier.

Cougars also swept last season?s league series between the two clubs 5-0 and 4-1 and will enter Saturday?s final as favourites to win a second Martonmere Cup.

?We know PHC will have something to prove against us. And we won?t be taking them lightly,? the Cougars spokesperson said. ?But our main priority is to keep focused on what it is we have to do to be successful.

?And if we can achieve that, then we should be okay on Saturday.?

It was also learned yesterday that former club sweeper Shawn Smith has taken over coaching responsibilities of the team in the absence of head coach Andrew Bascome who is currently away on personal leave.

Meanwhile, PHC?s veteran striker Sammy Swan is now on the verge of making local football history.

Come Saturday the 45-year-old footballer will become the oldest local player ever to play in a major domestic cup final.

Swan raised eyebrows last season when he made his first Premier Division appearance in six years. The veteran striker completed the campaign with nine goals in eight games to his credit.

He also played the entire 120 minutes of PHC?s Martonmere Cup semi-final win over Somerset Trojans last month at the Den ? Swan?s first start of the 2006-07 season.

?It will be interesting to see what happens on Saturday,? Swan told . ?And I?m really looking forward to the match.?