Football: SFF division one - Challengers show early credentials |30 March 2017

With four games played already this season, the league table is already giving out an indication as to how it will be, come the end of the season although there have been a few surprises thrown at the fans.

The 12-team division league promises to be a very exciting one this year with all the teams having something to fight for. The more established and capable teams will be hoping to challenge for the title, in the hope of dethroning defending champions Côte d’Or, while at the other end newcomers Red Star Defence Forces will be looking to finally kick-start their season as they look to avoid a return to second division football. To do so they will have to battle the likes of Revengers and St John Bosco, while Foresters’ unlikely struggle must surely be a momentary lapse.

St Michel are the current league leaders, equal on 10 points with second placed Côte d’Or, but St Michel have a greater goal difference (+11), compared to the defending champions (+7).

Anse Aux Pins-based St Michel have so far defeated Revengers (5-0), La Passe (5-4) and Anse Reunion (5-0), while they could only pick up a 1-1 draw against Northern Dynamo.

Côte d’Or also boast the same number of wins ‒ 2-1 against The Lions, 2-1 against Revengers and 5-0 against Red Star Defence Forces ‒ but dropped two points in a 0-0 draw against Foresters.

Meanwhile, St Louis follow in third place with 8 points after two wins and two draws, to also remain unbeaten so far this season along with St Michel and Côte d’Or.

So far, the surprise package of the season are Northern Dynamo and with players like Warren Mellie and Joshua Adeline putting in some impressive displays, they find themselves up in fourth place after going on a three-match unbeaten run since their opening round defeat to Anse Reunion. Last week’s 6-1 drubbing of Foresters was their best result, while they also performed admirably against rivals St Michel in a 1-1 draw. They are currently on 7 points.

Meanwhile, at the bottom half of the table, Foresters find themselves in unfamiliar territory as they sit in 10th place with three points, having not yet tasted victory in four outings. The loss against Northern Dynamo was their first of the campaign, but coach Rodney Choisy’s side have so far collected three draws and scored only five times in the process.

Revengers (11th) and Red Star Defence Forces (12th) are the only winless sides in the division, with the latter finding it very hard to get going in their debut season in the top flight.

Coached by Basil Hoareau, Revengers have conceded 15 goals in four games, meaning they have the leakiest defence in the league. They will have to find a solution quickly if they are to avoid relegation.

The following is the first division league table:

S. N.