Anthony Foster, Freelance WriterTHE Tony Spaulding Sports Complex is expected to be buzzing with excitement this afternoon when four of the Corporate Area's top schoolboy teams face-off in the Pepsi/ Sports Plus Manning Cup football semi-finals, starting at 1:00.
In the first game of the day's double-header, defending champions Bridgeport take on red hot Wolmer's at 1 p.m., before giant-killing Excelsior face-off with high-riding Norman Manley two hours later, this at 3p.m.
Students with ID's will be asked to pay $100 at the gate, students without ID's will have to pay $200, while teachers with ID's will be allowed to enter the venue free of cost, but without ID's $200.
The Bridgeport, Wolmer's clash could prove to be the most exciting of the afternoon.
Wolmer's are the new favourites following the exit of Charlie Smith.
Bridgeport are averaging 5.2 goals per game in the preliminary round. They will parade two of the best strikers in schoolboy football in Dean Thompson (18 goals) and national under-20 player Kemar Petrekin (16) and should fancy their chances.
The Portmore-based team which has shown some weakness in mid-field and defence and will have to tighten up if they are to beat Wolmer's. Bridgeport, however, as they have shown in their last match when defeating KIngston College 5-4, can get the goals to defeat any team in the competition.
Wolmer's will be pinning their hopes on the speedy Howard Wong (13 goals) and Luton Shelton (seven). Both work well as a unit and will cause some problems for the Anthony Patrick-coached Bridgeport team.
Patrick said he is expecting a keen battle.
"The Wolmer's team has some quality and skilful players," he said. "If given room they could cause problems for us. We will just have to go out there and play a close marking game," he added.
Michael Francis, coach of 10-time champions Wolmer's, believes his team are strong favourites now to win this year's Manning Cup title, but noted they will adopt a wait and see approach.
"We cannot take anything away from Bridgeport, they are the defending champions," he said. "Tomorrow we will wait and see their approach and make the adjustment as the game progresses," a confident Francis said.
Giant-killers Excelsior face a difficult task today against a physically strong Norman Manley team.
Excelsior's coach Leebert Halliman has praised his young team for reaching the semi-final round.
"Anything after this is a bonus," he said after his team's win over Charlie Smith on Wednesday.
"It's a long season and the players are young and I'm not sure if they can go any further but they have done very well up to this stage. We're very tired but for the next game we're going to give it our all," he added.
Alrick Clarke, who won three Manning Cup titles with Norman Manley believes as long as his boys play their own game and do what they have been doing all season, victory will be waiting.
"I haven't seem the Excelsior team play this season, but knowing Halliman he will be coming with all cylinders firing," Clarke added.
