By Peter Mallett
Panama's San Francisco FC return to the international stage on Wednesday looking to reverse last year's Champions League fortunes when they host Trinidad and Tobago's San Juan Jabloteh who will be making their first appearance in the tournament.
San Francisco failed to win a match in the Group Stage of last year's tournament, but returned for this year's edition by defeating Chorrillo on penalties in the 2009 Panamanian Apertura title game in June, their seventh title since the club's formation in 1971.
Manager Ruben Guevara announced at a July 24 news conference the re-signing of Colombian striker Carlos 'El Loco' Vilarete, midfielder Amir White and defender Joel Solanilla.
Since its league season doesn't begin until August 9, it warmed up for its Champions League Preliminary Round opener with a 2-1 friendly win over league rivals Alianza on Sunday on goals by Vilarete and White.
Jabloteh will need to thwart Boris Alfaro, San Francisco's leading scorer last season with eight goals, and midfielder Victor Hererra Piggott, who had five.
Panama's third-most successful club has had midfielder Ricardo Phillips back for more than a week since his Gold Cup experience with the Panamanian national team, and will have a defense anchored by Carlos Ruben Rivera, veteran Argentine Victor Suarez and goalkeeper William Negrete.
Jabloteh replaced popular English coach Terry Fenwick with Earl John in June, who has the club atop Trinidad and Tobago's pro league standings, one point ahead of Joe Public and Caledonia with a game in hand.
The club arrives in the Champions League coming off a 4-3 victory over Police Force FC on Friday thanks to Cyrano Glen's 66th-minute equalizer and striker Jason Marcano late winner.
Jabloteh remains Trinidad's most successful team having won four titles since the founding of the nation's pro league in 1999.
Although they represented Trinidad at the 2004 CONCACAF Champions Cup, this is its first appearance in the Champions League.
Glen, along with midfielder Marvin Oliver, lead the team with three goals each while Marcano, midfielders Ataullah Guerra and Lester Peltier have two apiece.
Midfielder Elton John has emerged as one of Jabloteh's top players and was a standout in their third-place finish at the CFU club championship, where it beat Haitian club Tempete for its berth.
Jabloteh's defense has looked inconsistent during some matches and this could be a factor which San Francisco could exploit in front of a home crowd in Wednesday's opener.
During a July 7 loss, Joe Public played numerous through balls that Jabloteh failed to solve in a 4-0 loss.
After Wednesday's game in La Chorrerra, Jabloteh will return home for the second leg in Marabella on August 6.
