An emotional FA Cup first-round tie between Devonshire Cougars and Wolves takes place at Devonshire Rec on Friday night (8pm) with both clubs in mourning after the sudden death this week of Jawonday Smith.

The 30-year-old was a former player for Cougars and played this season for Wolves, whose coach Marcelos Thomas said the loss had devastated his players and that they would be dedicating the rest of the season in his honour.

“It’s been a bit of a tough one this week with the passing of Jawonday, who represented both clubs, so the emotions are going to be high with both teams,” he told The Royal Gazette.

“But we are trying to press on and complete the season in his honour, so that’s been the focus of the week so far.”

Smith joined Wolves from Cougars during the late transfer window last November and made his final appearance for his new club in a 2-0 loss to Dandy Town at Goose Gosling Field on January 5.

Chae Brangman, the Cougars forward, reflected upon the memory of his late team-mate, who was the son of former club captain and Bermuda defender Shawn Smith.

“He has been at the club since we were younger, pretty much from primary school and maybe a little before that,” he said.

“A few of us have grown up with him and been around him our whole life, so to see that loss definitely takes a hit. His family were also around the club so we feel for them as well.”

Very little separated the two teams in their previous meeting this season, with Cougars edging their rivals 2-1 in a tight league clash last month.

Three-times FA Cup champions Cougars have momentum heading into the cup tie after squeaking past Devonshire Colts 2-1 in a league derby last weekend, while Wolves are winless since edging Paget by the same scoreline in another tight league affair last month.

“The guys are up for it and want to come out and put their best foot forward and perform to the best of their ability,” he said.

“We want to show up and play our style of football and get a win under our belt to boost us as we go into our next run of games.”

The Wolves coach also believes his team deserved the three points in their previous clash with Cougars.

“We lost but we played the better game,” he said. “It was just a couple of late goals that undone us.”

Brangman feels tonight’s tie will be just as close as the previous encounter between the two sides.

“Our last match-up against them we barely won, so going into this game I know on their side they are saying they barely beat us,” he said. “It was a very close game the last time we played them, so if anyone is looking at it then it’s pretty much a 50-50 game.

“None of us are looking at winning the league. So if this is the only cup that both of us have a chance, then I am sure both of us are going to put our best foot forward with the mindset of trying get something before the end of the season on top of it being the derby.

“It’s going to be a good fight and we both have a reason to fight for this game.”

Wolves have yet to win the FA Cup, losing 3-2 in extra time against Boulevard in their only appearance to date in the final during the 1996-97 campaign.