Adrian Frater, News Editor

Small

Western Bureau:

The Inter-Secondary Schools' Sports Association (ISSA) 2007 schoolboy football season, which was set to start on Saturday, September 8, will be delayed by at least one week due to the dislocation caused by Hurricane Dean and the impending general election.

"We have taken a decision that the competition will be delayed by at least a week," Dr. Walton Small, the newly elected chairman of ISSA, told The Gleaner yesterday.

He added: "We have had to make the changes as a result of the impact of the hurricane (Dean) and the upcoming general elections."

While citing Saturday, September 15, as a possible date for the start of the season, Dr. Small said a confirmation as to the exact date will be announced following a meeting of the executive of ISSA tomorrow in Kingston.

The season, which will start at the National Stadium with a grand opening ceremony, will feature a parade of teams from both the Manning and daCosta cups, as well as the opening game in both competitions. Both reigning da-Costa Cup champions Glenmuir High School and their Manning Cup counterparts Bridgeport High will be in action.

"Despite the delay to the start of the season, we are expecting the usual high standard we have grown accustomed to in both the daCosta Cup and the Manning Cup," Small said. "In addition, we are looking forward to good sportsmanship all-round."

The daCosta Cup, which will once again feature 80 teams divided into 13 zones, will see the return of St. Mary Technical, Morant Bay High and Merlene Ottey High, which were all absent from last season's competition that saw Glenmuir High School beat Frome Technical 3-2 on penalties in the final at Jarrett Park.

In the Manning Cup, which will feature 39 teams divided into six zones, Denham Town High will return to action after a one-year absence. Bridgeport won last year's final by disposing of Ex-celsior 3-1 in the final, which was played at the National Stadium. The daCosta Cup teams, according to their respective zones, read as follows:

Group A: Muschett, St. James, Cornwall College, William Knibb, Herbert Morrison and Irwin.

Group B: Anchovy, Frome, Rusea's, Cambridge, Green Island, Knockalva and Merlene Ottey.

Group C: Maud McLeod, Petersfield, Godfrey Stewart, Manning's, Little London and Grange Hill.

Group D: AaButhontt Gallimore