By Paul-Andre Walker, Staff ReporterBRIDGEPORT WILL be setting their sights on going one better than they did last year beginning today when they take on the Michael Francis-coached Ardenne High School in the 2004 Pepsi/Sports Plus Manning Cup.
There will be five games on today, all beginning at 3:30 p.m. Innswood play Mona at the Spanish Town Prison Oval, Kingston Technical High School play Tivoli at the Clan Carthy Field, beaten semi-finalists Norman Manley meet Spanish Town at Drewsland and defending champions Excelsior face Edith Dalton-James at the Excelsior playing field.
While Excelsior are hoping to effect a rare repeat this season, the team that everyone has their eye on is Bridgeport who have managed to retain ten players from last year's second-place campaign.
TWO FINALS
Added to the quality of team, they have also maintained the services of Anthony Patrick as coach. Patrick has seen Bridgeport to two finals in three years, winning one championship, and obviously knows what it takes to get there.
Ardenne performed like minnows last year but they do have the advantage of having Michael Francis join their fold. Francis has gotten to more finals than any schoolboy coach in the Manning Cup for the past 14 years.
While the coaches don't play the game, it would be amiss of anyone to underestimate the value of having a coach who knows what it is like to get teams to a final. It is yet to be seen however, if the loss of Akeem Priestly, who proved to be their most talented player last year, will have adverse effects. That game, while being Bridgeprt's home game will be played at Ardenne because the Ferdie Neita Park is still water logged.
LINE-UPS
The game between Norman Manley and Spanish Town is also highly-touted as both teams have quite a few returning players in their line-ups. Spanish Town didn't make it past the first round last time out but they were in a tough zone that included the eventual champions and they did show that they had some quality.
What was noticeable was the strength of their players. That, added to a little experience, could make them a very potent team.
Manley too have experience on their side, both with their coach Alrick Clarke and their defenders Dean-Paul Grandison and Rohan McDonald whose effectiveness in the back-line, especially against St. Jago in last year's quarter-final can be compared to erecting a wall between the goal posts.
They also have experience in attack with Andre Fagon clearly giving them the upper hand going into this game.
Don't miss The Gleaner's five teams to watch in the Manning and daCosta Cups tomorrow.
