Rangers look to end FA Cup drought
Southampton Rangers will look to win their first FA Cup in 27 years when they tackle defending champions Devonshire Cougars at the National Sports Centre (NSC) tomorrow.The Horseshoe Bay club have been to two finals in the past two years, losing both Friendship clashes to North Village, and will be looking to return to the club with the most coveted cup in Bermuda football.While the stage is set for an epic showdown, coach Keith Jennings hasn’t changed his approach to the biggest game in his fledgling coaching career.The former Village midfield schemer has won numerous FA Cups, but will be looking to win his first cup at the helm of any club.“Training has been good, the players have been out training that much harder for the match, so the preparations are going well,” said Jennings. “Our preparations don’t really change much, the only difference is that the game is more important than any other we have played this year.“We have been to a few Friendship finals but the FA Cup is more prestigious, more recognised than the Friendship so it is a bigger game than any other.“This is my first FA Cup as a coach but I have played in a lot of them. Playing and coaching in a final is a huge difference, the players can decide the game whereas the coach can only put out the game plan and hope it is executed.“For me as a coach it would be good to win the Cup, but it isn’t about me it is about the players and how bad they want it.”Jennings’ experience in big game situations may prove to be a vital weapon for Rangers.Having been to the ‘carpet’ and hoisted trophies, the boss feels he doesn’t need to give his men any extra incentive to bring the FA Cup to Southampton.Winning the trophy would be a fitting end to the season considering the plight the side have endured throughout the season.Flirting with relegation until the final days and overcoming St. David’s in their semi-final, the team are used to being in big game situations.They will need to be at their best, however, if they are to dethrone the champions who are also smarting from their Friendship loss to Village at the same venue last weekend.“I have been here as a player and a lot of these guys haven’t even won any cup so it would be nice for them and up their spirit and give them a purpose and put more into the game.“This can give them some hope that things are possible and it can be done.“We have flirted with relegation so a win would be a good thing.“In our previous FA Cup games we have played well, in our last game we beat St. David’s and you could see that they wanted it as well, so I tip my hat off to them.“We have put the work in, not to say Cougars or any other side havent’, but I’m looking at it from our point of view and hopefully we can come away with a victory becasue we deserve it.“I’m just hoping that when the whistle blows they go out and put in the work they are supposed to.”Preceding the Men’s FA Cup final will be the Women’s FA Cup final between Tuff-E-Nuff and Panthers, commencing at 12pm.Defending U-14 champions North Village put their title on the line when they clash with Somerset Trojans at 2 pm.The main event is scheduled to kick off at 4pm.
