Schoolboy season kicks off at Stadium

By Melton Williams and Paul Reid, Staff Reporters

THE Pepsi/Sports Plus 2001 schoolboy football season kick off this afternoon at the National Stadium with the competition's official opening ceremony and a double-header.

In the games down for contention daCosta Cup champions Cornwall will oppose William Knibbs at 1:30 p.m., and Manning Cup champions Norman Manley will battle St. Catherine at 3:30 p.m.

For this year's competition, organisers ISSA will be aiming to improve security at the various venues across the island.

ISSA president Clement Radcliffe stated that in view of the current social situation in Jamaica there was a need to pay due regard to match security."

Radcliffe stated that the police high command will offer their support. He also said that metal detectors will be used at selected venues across the island.

Title holders Norman Manley look to have a safe passage to the second round as they have been drawn in Group A among a set of usually non-competitive teams.

Those lining up to compete against Norman Manley are Clan Carthy, Ascot, St. Catherine and Holy Trinity.

Although coach Alrick Clarke said that "good things can be expected from Norman Manley," he dismissed reports that his team should have little difficulty in advancing.

"Never think it is safe," was his reply. He based his assessment on the fact that Norman Manley usually perform when they are not the defending champions.

"When you are the champions, you are subject to a lot of pressure because the teams are coming to get you," argued Clarke.

Clarke, however, hinted that this year's team which has retained the services of four players should be much stronger than last year's unit which beat Kingston College 3-1 in the Manning Cup final.

"Last year our team was a more defensive unit. This year we have put together a team with more all round skill."

Those back at school are goalkeeper Andrew Gibson, Kemoy Haynes (defender), Weston Forrest (linkman and forward) and Courtney Williams (midfield).

While Norman Manley have a good record in the Manning Cup competition, St. Catherine have failed to create any serious impact at this level.

Interestingly, Norman Manley defeated St. Catherine 3-0 in their first assignment last year.

The format of the Manning Cup competition remains the same where the preliminary round will include return matches. The opening round which consists of 160 games is scheduled to end on Saturday, October 13.

A dozen teams, divided into three groups, will remain in the hunt to contest the second round which begins on Friday, October 26. Then the group winners and the best second placed team will contest the semi-final on Saturday, November 10. The final is scheduled for Saturday, November 17.

Both Zone A daCosta Cup teams will be among the 68 trying to take home the title after Maldon dropped out earlier this week. Maldon's withdrawal leaves just four schools in Zone A, the others being former champions Herbert Morrison Technical and St. James High.

Three newcomers are numbered among the teams taking part. Mile Gully, Brimmer Vale and Lewisville will make their debuts while two more schools, Titchfield and Green Island, will return after taking a break from last season.

In addition to Maldon, 11 more teams had indicated earlier they would not be taking part in the competition. They include Muschett Comprehensive, Knockalva, Cambridge, DeCarteret, Albert Town, Knox, Bog Walk, Tacky, Buff Bay, Port Maria, St Mary High and Oracabessa.

In today's first game both teams will be seeking to get off to a positive start, especially with the small number of teams in the zone and with each school playing just a total of six games in the first round.

William Knibb's coach Paul 'Tegat' Davis was quoted earlier this week as saying his team was already looking past the first three rounds as he had his eyes set on the finals and their first title.

He will have his job cut out for him however as after failing to get out of the zone last season, his team must get by the 10 time champions.

Cornwall won both games played between the teams last year, 3-0 in Martha Brae and 4-0 at Jarrett Park and boasts a team that is just as strong as the one which won both rural area titles last year.

While losing three defensive starters, the Cornwall team still packs a punch in their offense and will give many defenses headaches this season.

Garrick Gordon, the team's top striker last season and hat trick hero in the finals against Munro College will return along with DeShawn Woolery, Dane Richards, Orlando Coleman and left-footed dead ball specialist Kirkland Samuels. National Under 17 goalkeeper Richard McCallum will anchor the Cornwall defence that has been sturdy in the preseason and will also include Richard Samuels and Rohan Bernard.

William Knibb had in impressive pre-season winning all six games but will come up against a much better opponent today than any they faced earlier.

Coach Davis will be depending on Yokan Grant, Jermaine Johnson, Negus Samuels, Ricardo Geddes and Kevon Pinnock to pull off an upset over the champions today.

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