Kwesi Mugisa, Staff Reporter

Excelsior High's Akeim Nelson. - File

Seven-time champions Excelsior High will go in search of a eighth title when they take on former champions Bridgeport High in the 2006 ISSA/Pepsi/JN Manning Cup final at the National Stadium today. Kick off time is 3:00 p.m. In the curtain-raiser at 1:00 p.m. dethroned champions Calabar High face Eltham High in the play-off for third place.

Excelsior and Bridgeport who both advanced to the finals from the same second round Group I, are no strangers to each other. In 2003 it was Excelsior who denied Bridgeport their second title, with a single goal.

"We can't say that we don't want revenge, we have been close on quite a few occasions. We remember our loss to them and we really want this one," said Bridgeport coach Anthony Patrick.

Not worried

"I am not that worried headed into this game, we played them in the quarter-final round and we drew 2-2, I think we should have won that game by a wide margin." he added.

Not long ago the St Catherine team were on the outside looking in and after drawing that game and their previous game against Camperdown, it seemed that they would be long shots to progress to the semi-final round.

However, once there they stunned quite a few pundits by coming from two goals down to see off defending champions Calabar and book their place in the final.

While conceding goals has been a problem all season long for Bridgeport and while they have conceded seven in the last four games, they have more than made up for it up front as led by front men Andre Clennon, Adrian King and Theophilus Samuels they have managed to find the back of the net 10 times in the last four games.

However, Excelsior coach Leebert Halliman whose team saw off Walker Cup champions Eltham in the semi-finals is equally confident heading into today's final. In addition to being anchored by a water-tight back line, Alanzo Adlam should provide plenty of spark up front for the five-time champions, while Akeem Nelson will look to assume creative duties in the midfield.

"We have been preparing for this day from June and everything is on track for the final," said Halliman.

"Anybody who reaches a final must be confident, you must be doing the correct things and if we continue to do that we will lift the title," he added.