- Ricardo Makyn/Staff Photographer
Excelsior's Ricardo Haynes dribbles at the Calabar defense in their second round match.
Paul-Andre Walker, Staff Reporter
DEFENDING ISSA Pepsi/ Sports Plus Manning Cup champions Excelsior, after an unbeaten season so far, are on the last hurdle of their quest for a coveted repeat season.
They will chase a schoolboy treble and a record five titles in two years when they play against Calabar in a 2:00 p.m. final at the National Stadium.
In the 12:00 p.m curtain raiser, Camperdown, who went down 0-3 to Calabar in the semi-final last Saturday, will play against an unfortunate St. George's team that lost out on the chance to play in the final to two extra time goals by Excelsior's Anthony Christie, for third place.
Calabar, the unmistakable underdogs, have waited 27 years for the chance to win their third title.
The last time the teams met Excelsior eked out a 1-0 victory that could have gone the other way but sour luck on the part of the Red Hill's Road-based school affected their chances.
Excelsior have shown that they know how to win and that they are a mentally well prepared team. They have pulled out wins whenever they have been tested and boast a number of players that can damage their opponents. Added to that they have the experience of already being in the Manning Cup finals.
QUAGMIRE OF DISADVANTAGES
Although these things are all advantages, Calabar's coach David Hunt thinks they could turn into a quagmire of disadvantages for his opponents.
"Excelsior are unbeaten and maybe the time is ripe for that to change. They won last year and have that experience, that might make us a little hungrier than them. They are more mature but our youthful exuberance might negate that maturity," said Hunt.
He added: "I have spoken to my team about Excelsior's advantages and I have shown them how these are opportunities for us if we are willing to take them."
Excelsior also have the advantage of having Lebert Halliman in charge of their team and as such, one of the best schoolboy coaches around. Even for Halliman though, the pressure of performing this historic feat must be immense.
"My team is mentally tough so they will put whatever it is behind them and play to the end," Halliman explained.
Halliman went on to explain that his opponents were a tough group and his team were going to have a fight on their hands.
"They are a very good team. I think they are playing the role that we did last year. They are young, spirited and play to instructions. Every coach would love to have a Calabar team like this team in the final," Halliman commented.
Having made it to the final of both the Walker Cup and the Manning Cup competitions, Excelsior will be trying to better the performance the Charlie Smith team of 1995 that grabbed the Corporate Area schoolboy double and only lost when they were asked to take home the Olivier Shield.
However, Halliman says he is not focusing on records at this point in time.
"They have to do what they've been doing all season, scoring goals and ensuring that they win."
