Kwesi Mugisa, Staff Reporter

The wait will be over for several schools looking to make their mark on the new season of the ISSA/Pepsi/Digicel Manning Cup as the competition gets under way in earnest today with a full slate of games scheduled to take place around the Corporate Area.

The competition officially started on the weekend with an unexpected result, as defending champions Jamaica College had to come from two goals down to secure a share of the points with Jonathan Grant, as the teams travelled to Jarrett Park.

If that result is to be taken as any sort of warning, Calabar, Waterford and Excelsior, a few of the teams expected to challenge this season, will certainly have to be on their guard when they bow into action today.

Defending champions

In group B defending Walker Cup champions Calabar will open their campaign at home against Ascot, while last season's beaten semi-finalists, Waterford, will host St Mary's College. The St Catherine team will no doubt be looking to do one better this year, while it is difficult to imagine St Mary's not playing better than they did last year, when they conceded an appalling 84 goals.

In group B's other game, Donald Quarrie will host Pembroke Hall at Breezy Castle.

Excelsior will kick off their campaign against Greater Portmore, a team which narrowly missed out on a second-round spot last season, in group E. In fact, the zone looks to be the toughest as it also includes St George's, Camperdown, Ardenne and Dunoon.

In the group's other games, St George's will host Dunoon at Winchester Park, while Ardenne tackle Camperdown.

Over in group A, a Campion team that racked up some unexpected results in their last campaign will look for a good start against Tarrant, former champions Tivoli and Norman Manley will battle at Tinson Pen, while Spanish Town host Charlie Smith at Prison Oval.

Today's games

Group A

Campion vs Tarrant

Tivoli vs Norman Manley

Spanish Town vs Charlie Smith

Group B

Donald Quarrie vs Pembroke Hall

Waterford vs St Mary's College

Calabar vs Ascott

Group E

Ardenne vs Camperdown

Excelsior vs Greater Portmore

St George's vs Dunoon