Adrian Frater, News Editor
Godfrey Stewart's Dwayne Campbell dribbling away during the daCosta Cup semi-final against Clarendon College at Jarrett Park on Wednesday. - Adrian Frater Photo
WESTERN BUREAU:
WITH BOTH teams boasting proud un-beaten records in the competition, this afternoon's ISSA/Pepsi/Jamaica National daCosta Cup final between defending champions Glenmuir and Godfrey Stewart at Jarrett Park, Montego Bay, has all the makings of a top-flight championship game.
The fact that both teams battled to an exciting 1-1 draw when they crossed paths in the competition's quarter-final round has heightened the intrigue as both coaching staffs would have got a fair idea of what the other team has to offer, which would have allowed for strategic planning to nullify strengths and exploit weaknesses.
"We are expecting a strong physical presence from the Godfrey Stewart team but
we are ready for it," said Glenmuir's coach Jackie Walters, whose team has been fine-tuning their preparation in Montego Bay since Thursday. "While football is a game of glorious uncertainties, we have not seen anything in this Godfrey Stewart team to be worried about."
OOZING WITH CONFIDENCE
Despite not having as imposing a record as their opponents, the Carl Palmer-coached Godfrey Stewart team is also oozing with confidence, especially after seeing their Savanna-la-Mar neighbours Manning's High take the Glenmuir team to extra-time in their semi-final clash on Tuesday.
"After seeing what Manning's was able to do against them, we are even more confident that we can beat them," said coach Palmer, who is in his fourth season in charge of the Godfrey Stewart team. "The players are quite confident and we really believe we are going to take home this title."
In terms of overall performance this season, the Glenmuir team, which has already retained the Ben Francis KO title, one of the three titles they won last year, along with the daCosta Cup and Olivier Shield, appeared all but invincible prior to the breaking of their 17-game winning streak. However, while their mystique has been removed, they still appear as formidable as ever.
"The mood in the camp is quite good, we are still unbeaten and our record is quite good. We have scored 105 goals and have given up only five, which speaks for itself," said coach Walters. "We probably underestimated Manning's a little
bit in the semi-final but the
important thing is that we won the game 3-2 in extra-time."
Godfrey Stewart, which came up against an equally resolute Clarendon College in their semi-final, showed a lot of guts and determination in winning 4-2 on penalties after regulation and extra-time play had ended 1-1. That, coach Palmer says, has significantly strengthened the resolve of the team in regards to handling tough situations.
A TOUGH GAME
"It was a tough game but it showed that we are fighting team that will not give up regardless of how tough the opposition is," said coach Palmer, in reflecting on their semi-final victory. "That game has proven to us that we are ready to battle any opposition."
In terms of composition, the Glenmuir team, which features the vast majority of last year's all-conquering outfit, appears quite solid in all departments. As their unbeaten record and goalscoring statistics show, they are stable in defence, potent in midfield and awesome in attack.
While goalkeeper Heron Brown has been having a fairly easy ride, he has proven in the few tough games that he is quite a competent custodian. With the likes of the resolute Shauntel Mundle holding things together before Brown, the Glenmuir defence regularly appears impregnable.
In midfield and attack, Glenmuir are all power with the likes of Shaun Francis, Moses Jordon, James Thomas, Trevol Smith, Cornelius Henry and the prolific Carnell Learmond, who has scored 39 goals in all competitions this season, leading their quest
for goals.
In terms of their overall strength, Godfrey Stewart are also quite a potent outfit. Goalkeeper Dennis Taylor has been fairly safe all season and with skipper Dwayne Williams, Ricardo Hanson and Neville Smith offering him quality defensive protection, getting at him will not be easy.
In terms of their offensive thrust, Godfrey Stewart could make life difficult for Glenmuir because in Donald Hewitt Jr., Davion Thorpe, Garfield Green, Wayne Campbell, Ryan Smith and the deadly Josimar Crooks, they have tried and proven talents. Crooks, with seven goals, and Smith, with nine, can both be quite deadly before the goal.
