Vasco begin defence of the first of four titles they won last year when league football kicks off tomorrow with five interesting match-ups in the First Division.

The league champs, who looked just like the Vasco of last season when they dumped Boulevard 4-0 in the Martonmere Cup in midweek, take on Dandy Town in the day's top match tomorrow at BAA Field.

Vasco have picked up several new players from last season to replace the likes of Donovan Livingston, Paul Towlson, Sammy Swan, Steven Mendes, Clay Smith and Nashun Burrows. Now coach John Rebello has the task of getting the right mix out of those players who bring different skills and temperaments to the team.

Tomorrow's match will feature at least four former PHC players as Otis Steede and Raynel Lightbourne go up against Dano Outerbridge and McLee Smith of Town.

Sinclair Gibbons will miss the match after being sent off in midweek against Boulevard.

The Martonmere Cup champions will be keen to bounce back from that 4-0 loss when they take on unpredictable Devonshire Colts, who have lost players like Ellington Weldon, Mark Ray, Vic Ball and Keenan Burchall and are taking the opportunity to groom some youngsters.

They also had to replace coach David Furbert who had agreed to return from Hamilton Parish to replace Vic Ball Sr as coach. But Furbert recently informed the club that personal obligations overseas prevented him from committing to the job. As a result the club have confirmed that Darrin Lewis and Ray Jones will be joint coaches this season.

"We didn't officially appoint them until a month ago,'' said president Kenny Dill yesterday. "We're in excellent hands. They have a very good rapport with the players and executives also. It wasn't even a question of bringing somebody else in to take over the programme and cause any rifts.

"The players were very receptive of it and it was like a natural progression.

They are joint coaches and have equal say as well as open dialogue with us, the executives, as well as the players.

"The approach we'll use is fresh because there is constant dialogue between the coaches and the players, but those guys have the final say.'' Tomorrow's matches involving promoted teams Wolves and Hamilton Parish should generate plenty of interest. Both sides have made key signings to add to the squads that earned promotion last season.

Parish goalkeeper Kevin Bean has moved on to Wolves with Cymande Davis moving from Dandy Town to fill the gap. Parish mark their return to the top flight at Bernard Park where they will meet North Village. Ricky Hill makes his debut as Parish coach.

Leon Raynor and Sean Dill will take on their former Village team-mates while Meiko White, Kaiya Darrell and Jamel Dill also made the switch from Village to Parish during the summer. Jermaine Belboda's transfer from Devonshire Colts to Hamilton Parish was objected to by Colts but the matter has been resolved and the full back's move has been cleared by the BFA.

Former Somerset and Bermuda international defender, Dennis Brown, the coach responsible for reviving Wolves' programme, also goes up against his former team when the Second Division champions take on the Trojans at Devonshire Rec.

Somerset were relegated last season and are only in the First Division because of the withdrawal from the league of Hotels. And new coach Andrew Bascome has a big job on his hands trying to restore the club to its former glory.

Wolves have Kenny Hill and Carlos Pearman back in their ranks while Ellington Weldon of Devonshire Colts, Nakia Smith of Village and Leonard Hypolite of Boulevard will assure there is a healthy competition for places.

In the other match, Southampton Rangers entertain a Devonshire Cougars team who are already being tipped as relegation candidates. Rangers lost both their matches in the Martonmere Cup and with Janeiro Tucker and Kwame Tucker away with the national cricket team, this could be Cougars' chance to snatch three important points.

Cougars have lost the likes of Devon Brangman, Jawan Thomas, Raynel Lightbourne, Sergio Goater and Aljame Zuill and their success will hinge on how well those places are filled. Three clubs will be relegated at the end of the season as the First Division is trimmed to eight teams for next season.

PHC, back in the Second Division for the second time in their history, are favourites for the lone promotion spot.

They open their season at Southampton Oval, their home field this season as PHC Stadium is closed, against Somerset Eagles. Sammy Swan has returned from Vasco to take over the coaching duties.

Prospect and new Second Division team Ireland Rangers clash at Police Field while Social Club take on St. George's at Bernard Park and St. David's travel to White Hill to meet Paget.