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Cougars hunting historic treble

Ole Ole Ole: Devonshire Cougars take on Somerset Eagles in the FA Cup final at the National Sports Centre on Sunday.

Devonshire Rec. president Craig Clarke is hoping for a historic day for his club when they compete in three cup finals at the National Sports Centre (NSC) on Sunday.

Cougars Under 14s face Somerset Trojans before their Under-16s square off against North Village in their respective Knockout cup finals.

The Big Cats then go hunting for their first ever FA Cup trophy when they tackle Kenny Thompson's Somerset Eagles.

Clarke admits he will be sitting on the edge of his seat for the better part of six hours, but is confident all three Cougars teams can produce the goods on the big occasion.

"This is a great moment in our history, we have three teams gunning for glory on Sunday," said Clarke. "I'm only hoping that we can be successful in all of these matches because our junior programmes are growing and our coaching staff and chairman are doing a wonderful job.

"We have made vast inroads in getting our junior programme up and running and we will be able to see our youngsters in action on Sunday.

"We know where our future is coming from and they have earned the right to play in these games by being successful in their respective competitions.

"With everything going on in this country, we must focus on our young people, and I think we do a sterling job in this department at Cougars.

"We are not a football club, we are a community club and we want to represent our community to the best of our ability.

"We have a growing programme at the moment, and this shows that if you put something into the younger children, something positive will happen."

Clarke said he was wary of Thompson's men who managed to take four points off Cougars in the domestic season, including an opening day win at White Hill Field. But he believes Cougars' recent experience of playing in front of large crowds in the CFU Club Championship in St.Vincent will stand them in good stead going into the 2009/10 season curtain call.

"Our seniors are preparing for the match, and not to say anything bad about Eagles because they have a good side as well, but we are obviously looking to win the trophy," he said.

"They took some points off us this year and they have a good team with the likes of Keishen Bean and Antwan Russell. If they are to beat us it will be one of their big name players that will do it.

"On the other hand when you look at us we have experience as well in Kwame Steede, Aljame Zuill and Domico Coddington, who have played in big matches.

"In the CFU Championships, our opening game was in front of 5,000 people so the final shouldn't be any extra pressure.

"But for us to have three teams in the finals on the same day says a lot about us. "

The day of finals kicks off at 12 p.m. with Cougars and Trojans in the Under-14 final, and then Cougars Under-16s and Village take to field at 2 p.m., followed by the FA Cup final at 4 p.m.