Adrian Frater, News Editor

WESTERN BUREAU:

WHEN THE daCosta Cup football competition gets going at Jarrett Park in Montego Bay on Saturday, September 9, with a Zone C showdown between champions Godfrey Stewart and parish neighbours Manning's, another 63 schools will be waiting in the wings to join the race for the coveted title.

Unlike last year when the competition started with 77 teams divided into 13 zones, this year's fixtures show one less zone as Zone L, which featured an 'A' and 'B' segment last year, has been amalgamated, which has resulted in one new mega-zone featuring eight teams.

With Muschett and Irwin High not in the mix this year and Anchovy High joining the ranks of the Zone B contenders, the usually potent Zone A, which has won the title five times in the past 20 years still looks formidable with former champions Cornwall College and Herbert Morrison alongside St. James High, William Knibb and Maldon.

In Zone C, which produced last year's champion Godfrey Stewart and beaten semi-finalists Manning's, Maud McLeod and Grange Hill have joined the zone while Black River has been switched to Zone E. While in Zone B, former champion Rusea's and Frome are lined up alongside Anchovy, Knockalva and Cambridge.

"Grange Hill have been a very good team over the years and I expect them to make the zone a little bit tougher," said Godfrey Stewart's coach, Carl Palmer. "I am expecting that they will do well but we are ready for them," he said.

Powerful zone

Zone I, already a powerful zone with the likes of Glenmuir, Vere Technical, Garvey Maceo and Central High, should be even tougher this year as Old Harbour, who qualified for the inter-zone round from Zone J last year, has been added to the mix.

"It is really a question of the players taking up the responsibility and doing what is expected of them," said coach Jackie Walters in looking a Glenmuir's chances in what looks a very strong zone. "Schoolboy football is unpredictable so it might be unwise to make any predictions."

While all the perennial big guns will be lining up for the title this year, the fans of previous contenders such as Merlene Ottey, Little London, Brown's Town, Ferncourt, York Castle, Bustamante High, Annotto Bay and St. Mary Technical will have to switch their allegiance to other teams as these have not entered this year.