JUST BEFORE tomorrow's start of the 2004 Captain's Bakery-sponsored Inter-Secondary Schools Sports Association (ISSA) high schoolgirls football competition, the number of teams has been reduced.
A record 40 schools had entered for the 2004 competition, which the Captain's Bakery had injected $1.7 million into for this year. However, despite a lot of incentives up for grabs including two computer sets with printers, Clarendon College and Alston High have withdrawn.
At Monday's press briefing to announce the more than 100 per cent increased sponsorship, the competition's officer at ISSA, George Forbes, told journalists that it was unlikely any schools would withdraw.
However, yesterday, a release from ISSA stated the two schools had pulled out of the competition. No reasons were given.
The competition opens tomorrow with defending champions Queen's playing Clan Carthy at Spanish Town Prison Oval. A dress parade of the participating teams will be held before the game.
The schools down to take part in this year's competition are:
Alpha, Ardenne, Ascot, Balaclava, Bridgeport, Camperdown, Campion, Central, Charlemont, Clan Carthy, Denham Town, Dinthill Technical, Donald Quarrie, Ewarton, Excelsior, Hampton, Holmwood Technical, Innswood, Jonathan Grant, Kingston Technical, Lennon, McGrath, Merl Grove, Merlene Ottey, Mount Alvernia, Norman Manley, Old Harbour, Penwood, Queen's, Rusea's, Spalding, St. Andrew Technical, St. Elizabeth Technical, St. Hugh's, St. Jago, Tivoli, Wolmer's and Yallahs.
