The stage is set for another thrilling chapter of schoolboy football as the Inter-secondary Schools Sports Association (ISSA) Champions Cup draw, conducted at SportsMax Studios on Tuesday, revealed a series of captivating matchups.
Chief among the fixtures to kick off this weekend’s quarterfinal round is the clash between reigning champions Glenmuir High and former champions Kingston College, as the tournament, which brings together the best from the Manning Cup and daCosta Cup competitions, promises fierce battles and a showcase of young talent.
Glenmuir High have been in impeccable form this season and are high-riding favourites to go all the way in the daCosta Cup. To begin their Champions Cup defence against Kingston College (KC) will certainly test their mettle, but they have so far displayed that they possess enough quality to overcome any challenge.
According to assistant coach Johnoy Chambers, Glenmuir, now making their fourth Champions Cup appearance, are riding high on years of developmental work.
“What we are doing at Glenmuir is just continuing the hard work we’ve been doing for the past three to four years. Being here is very important to us because the school strives to be the best both on and off the field," said Chambers.
Kingston College, a nine-time participant and winner in 2019, brings a legacy of dominance and is hungry to reclaim their place at the summit of schoolboy football.
In a historic clash, Ocho Rios High will make their second Champions Cup bow against debutants St Catherine High. Ocho Rios have been in good knick this season and will aim to continue that run of form, but St Catherine, under the stewardship of veteran coach Anthony Patrick, are determined to make an impact.
Patrick, a two-time Manning Cup-winning coach with Bridgeport, expressed pride in his team’s achievement.
“It’s a joy for me to have a team here. We’ve been building well from preseason, and it’s now coming out on the field. We are going to give it our best shot," Patrick declared.
In another interesting clash, Hydel High will mark their fourth appearance in the Champions Cup when they face Garvey Maceo, who are no strangers to the tournament with six appearances.
Hydel, known for their resolute defence and quick transitions, will be eager to stamp their authority on the competition. However, Garvey Maceo are seasoned campaigners, and their current crop of players will look to rise to the occasion in this encounter.
Meanwhile, Jamaica College (JC), a nine-time participant and 2022 Champions Cup winners, are peaking at the right time and, as such, will start favourites in their encounter against McGrath High, the reigning Ben Francis Cup champions.
Jamaica College’s decorated history speaks for itself, and members of Davion Ferguson’s current unit are seasoned in high-stakes matches. Still, they will be relying on tactical discipline to continue their rich history, while McGrath, buoyed by their recent cup triumph, will look to continue their upward trajectory.
Champions Cup Fixtures
Hydel High vs Garvey Maceo
Ocho Rios High vs St Catherine High
Jamaica College vs McGrath High
Glenmuir High vs Kingston College
If ever there was a fitting way for a team to win the first title of the ISSA Schoolboy football season, it is to cop their first ever hold on that title, and Glenmuir High did just that when they snared the Champions Cup all-island knockout crown on Saturday.
The fact that Glenmuir achieved the feat by coming from behind to condemn their highly thought of neighbours Clarendon College to a first defeat of the season in an enthralling contest that ended 3-2, sweetened the deal, and the celebrations by the team and its fans which formed a sea of red in the Grandstand at the National Stadium, declared that much.
Ja-Son Whyte (27th), captain Kyle Gordon (53rd) and the menacing Orane Watson (82nd), etched Glenmuir's name in the annals of the competition's history, as they became the third rural area team to win the title and, more importantly, remain on course to secure the coveted treble.
They now join Jamaica College (2014 and 2022), St George’s College (2015), Wolmer's Boys (2016), Kingston College (2017 and 2019), Cornwall College (2018) and Clarendon College (2021) in the champions column.
Keheim Dixon (18th) and captain Malachi Douglas (90+5) got the goals for Clarendon College, who played most of the second half with 10 players after Nashon Bolt was red carded in the 51st minute.
Though elated, winning coach Andrew Peart cut a subdued figure, as he is aware that another tough battle against the same opposition for the more prestigious daCosta Cup title awaits.
"To God be the glory, as I said at the start of the season, it is a three-year journey and so we are happy to be here as champions. The boys did well to come from behind and we couldn'task for a better fight," said Peart, who alps guided Glenmuir to Ben Francis triumph last season.
"We now have a one week break ahead of the next game. We know it's going to be tough, so we have to be better than we were today (Saturday), but this is one accomplishment achieved and so we prepare to fight for another, " he added.
It was always expected to be an entertaining encounter, and it didn't disappoint as both teams gave as good as they got from the start when they got off some early warning shots in their press for the early ascendancy.
Clarendon College eventually broke the deadlock when a decent team buildup sent Atibo Green down the right channel to play a perfect pass across the face of goal for Dixon to finish from close range.
They almost found a second in the 26th through Douglas, who found space inside the 18-yard box for a left-footed drive along the pitch, but Antwone Gooden got down well to his left to parry.
Glenmuir responded a minute later and were back on level terms courtesy of Whyte, who tucked away a firm right-footed effort from just about 20-yards out that left Roshae Burrell, in goal for Clarendon College, flat-footed and as a mere spectator.
Though they engaged in end-to-end action from there and created a few half chances, neither team was able to add to their tally as the score remained unchanged at the break.
Clarendon College was more purposeful at the top of the resumption, but their progress was thwarted six minutes in as Bolt was shown a straight red card by referee Steffon Dewar after he took out Orane Watson just inside the arc.
And if that wasn't bad enough, Gordon threw salt in Clarendon College's wounds with a firmly struck right-footer from the resulting freekick that gave Burrell no chance at a save.
With the numerical advantage and scoreline in their favour, Glenmuir enjoyed a decent passage of play, but failed to add to their tally at that point.
Clarendon College were brave and instead of going defensive, Head coach Lenworth "Teacha" Hyde threw some fresh legs in attack, and the move almost proved fruitful as they went close on a few occasions through Douglas and Dixon.
In fact, they had two opportunities in quick succession in the 71st through Dixon, whose first effort from just inside the 18-yard box came off the left upright, and seconds later Douglas hit the right upright as the Chapleton-based team cursed their luck. To make matters worse, Glenmuir found a third when Burrell left his lines and made a big blunder which allowed Orane Watson to steal possession and calmly fire into an empty net from a distance.
Though down, Clarendon College fought on and pulled one back in time added, when Douglas converted from the 12-yard spot, after Dixon was brought down by Gooden inside the danger area. They went close to pulling level term on the final play of the game as Dixon rifled and effort from just inside the 18-yard box, but Gooden stood firm to deny the talismanic striker and sent the May Pen fans into frenzy.
Hyde, as always, lauded his team for their grit and determination despite the disadvantage.
"Even when we down to 10 players, we still created numerous chances and we could have won. So, hats off to my team, they fought hard, and it just wasn't to be, but we will get them replenished and motivated again for the daCosta Cup final," Hyde noted.
Glenmuir High will contest their first ever ISSA Champions Cup final against neighbours Clarendon College, following a 5-3 penalty shootout win over Kingston College, after they played out a 1-1 stalemate in regulation time in a keenly contested semi-finals encounter at the Anthony Spaulding Sports Complex on Tuesday.
Interestingly, both Glenmuir and Clarendon College will also contest the daCosta Cup final, as both remain on course to secure the coveted triple crown feat.
Brandon Wallace gave Glenmuir High a 14th-minute lead, but that was cancelled out by Darnel Edwards’s 16th-minute effort, which set up the dreaded penalty kicks.
The May Pen-based Glenmuir was perfect from the 12-yard spot converting all five kicks, while goalkeeper Antwone Gooden came up big to deny Jaheim McLean and ensure the Andrew Peart-coached side a spot in another final.
Pert was delighted by the accomplishment but is well aware that the job is not yet finished with the final to be contested on Saturday at the National Stadium.
“I am very pleased; it was progressing from a semi-final to a final so for us now the focus is strictly on the game for Saturday. Well done to the boys and everyone involved, this is five finals in three years…Under-14, Under-16, Ben Francis Cup, daCosta Cup and Champions Cup, so that is commendable for the school and the objective is now to go and win it,” Peart declared.
It was a lively start by both teams, particularly Glenmuir, who gradually gained the ascendancy in the early exchanges. Kyle Gordon went on one of those early breaks, but the quality of the finish lacked the build-up, as the chance went begging.
However, Wallace spared his blushes eight minutes later with an exquisite right-footed finish from well over 20 yards out, and from an angle, that left Kingston College’s goalkeeper Malique Williams beaten all ends up.
Kingston College replied shortly after with two efforts coming in quick succession, the second proving fruitful, as Edwards’s left-footed shot from top of 18-yard box took wicked deflection and slipped past Gooden at near post.
From there, both teams canceled out each other, as they gave as good as they got in the attacking third, but faulty shooting proved their undoing and so it was left for the dreaded penalties to decide a winner.
Though disappointed about losing a second semi-final via the shootout route, Vassell Reynolds of Kingston College found solace in his team’s improvement throughout the season.
“I thought we played well enough (to win). It was a good game on both ends, both teams created a number of chances, but we knew from the beginning that it was going to be a chess game because both teams would have employed a similar system, so it was just who executed more today,” Reynolds said.
“I thought it was a good run we saw a lot of improvements from where we started in July and the boys continued to grow, we are disappointed that we are not playing in one of the finals, but I thought it was a good run for us,” he added.
Clarendon College continued their impressive vein of form, as they booked a spot in a second final for the season with a 2-0 win over Hydel High in the ISSA Champions Cup all-island knockout tournament semi-finals at the Anthony Spaulding Sports Complex on Tuesday.
The reigning daCosta Cup champions, who will defend their rural area crown against Clarendon neighbours Glenmuir High, are well and truly on course to secure the coveted triple crown, as they now wait their opponents for the Champions Cup showpiece.
Clarendon College’s ever-reliable and prolific front man Keheim Dixon, again did the damage for Chapelton-based team with a brace in the 19th and 87th minutes.
Though in the perfect position to achieve the triple feat, Clarendon College’s Head coach Lenworth “Teacha” Hyde downplayed their ambitions.
“The boys definitely went out and had fun, especially the first half, we had an excellent first half, but I didn’t like the second half because they brought back Hydel in the game. However, even when Hydel had their moments, we defended well, and our goalkeeper came up big today also. So, it was a nice performance, I wanted more but what they give me at this stage of the season, I’ll take it,” Hyde said in a post-game interview.
“We are working, so when the next match come, we will deal with it. I don’t talk about triple crown I am just playing the games as they come along,” he added.
With both teams coming of penalty shootout victories in their respective daCosta Cup and Manning Cup semi-finals encounters, the physical and mental toughness of both teams were expected to be tested, and so it was.
Both teams were spirited at the start, but it was Hydel finding that signalled intentions first when Dontae Brooks broke into a one-on-one situation with Roshae Burrell in goal for Clarendon College, but the goaltender came up trumps with a big save to deny the attacker.
Clarendon College took heed and replied with a flurry of attacks of their own, the best of which came in the 19th when Dixon slotted home from just inside the 18-yard box, after Deandre Gallimore’s initial effort came back off the crossbar.
They almost doubled the lead four minutes later as Dixon’s shot from deep inside the box, was charged down and Jahmelle Ashley’s attempt from the resulting corner was cleared off the line.
Hydel enjoyed a decent passage of play in the latter stages of the half, but their hunt for the elusive equalizer proved fruitless at that point, as Clarendon College went to the break 1-0 up.
With their backs against the wall, Hydel came out pressing on the resumption and had a few opportunities to claw their way back into the contest, the best of which came in the 65th. This, when Omario Henry rounded Burrell, but failed to make it count.
From there, Clarendon College once again took charge of proceedings and inevitably found a second when Christopher Hull played provider for Dixon, who rifled right-footer past Kingston College’s goalkeeper Tajarie Lee for his 27th goal of the season.
Hydel’s Head coach Devon Anderson rued defensive errors which proved their undoing.
“The team that made the least mistake came out the winner. We made two critical mistakes in front of goal, and we paid, so credit to Clarendon, it was a hard-fought battle, we threw some punches, and we gave our best. So, we will lick our wound and then get ready for the Manning Cup (final),” Anderson said.
Reigning daCosta Cup champions Clarendon College remain on course to secure a coveted treble, as they came from behind to down a gritty St George’s College 3-1 in a pulsating ISSA Champions Cup quarterfinal encounter at the National Stadium on Tuesday.
Justin Hayles (12th), Keheim Dixon (84th) and Tedane Williams (90+5), got the job done for Clarendon College after Jindu Powell gave St George’s College an eighth-minute lead.
Clarendon College will square off against Hydel High in one semi-final encounter, while Kingston College and Glenmuir will lock horns in the other. Kingston College earlier edged Dinthill Technical 3-2, while Glenmuir and Hydel were 1-0 and 4-2 winners over Mona High and Garvey Maceo respectively.
Both teams started spiritedly with St George’s College getting off the first warning shot and Clarendon College responded soon after. In fact, Clarendon College should have gone ahead at that point, but Deandrae Gallimore his effort High and wide from deep inside the 18-yard box.
Given the tempo at which both teams started, it was almost clear that the small turnout inside the grandstand would not have to wait long for the go-ahead goal, and it fell to St George’s College in fine style.
After Zabir Taylor was taken down to the left of the 18-yard box, Malique Lorraine delivered a delicate chip from the set-play and Powell rose above defenders to head home.
But Clarendon College pulled level four minutes later when Hayles finished off a rebound from Dixon's long-range effort that was blocked by Jaedon Thompson, in goal for St George’s College.
From there, both teams cancelled out each other in the middle of the park, as they failed to create any meaningful chances at that point.
It wasn't until the backend of the half that Clarendon College once again surged forward and Christopher Hull should I put them ahead, but instead hit his right-footed effort over the crossbar from just inside the 18-yard box, as the score remained 1-1 at the break.
The second half started just like the first with St George’s College again on the front foot, as they enjoyed a good passage of play, and breached Clarendon College's defence a few times but failed to capitalise.
Their first fell in the 65th to Adrian Reid, who got on the end of Taylor's cross but his right-footer at the fat post was charged down by two defenders.
Reid was at it again 11 minutes later with his shot from a distance by parried by Roshae Burrell, in goal for Clarendon College, on that occasion.
After absorbing consistent pressure, Clarendon College regained the ascendancy when Dixon followed up and finished off a rebound when Daniel Clarke’s shot from a distance was blocked by Thompson.
And with St George’s College pushing high in their bid for the equalizer, the Chapelton-based team helped themselves to another on a well-worked counterattack orchestrated by Dixon and ended with Williams tucking away from close range, seconds before the final whistle.
Winning coach Lenworth “Teacha” Hyde was delighted with the outcome.
"It was just a match up where the better team would win on the day. It was exciting and both teams put out there all and I must lift my hats to St George’s College for a hard-fought game. I told my players to be relentless and I must lift my hats to them as well, they did well and we just hope we can continue playing this brand of football and hopefully win one of these trophies,” Hyde said.
His counterpart Neville “Bertis” Bell took heart from his team’s display, as he conceded that they were beaten by a quality opponent.
"I give thanks because I thought it was a wonderful schoolboy football game. Clarendon College is a quality team and I thought we matched them well and I am proud of these guys. I don't think anyone thought we would be here at this stage of the competition, but we are here, and we have shown that we deserve to be here. We got beaten by a good team and I can live with that,” Bell noted.
Last season’s beaten finalists Kingston College will kick start their ISSA Champions Cup campaign against Dinthill Technical in the first game of a double-header at the National Stadium on Saturday.
With last year's champions Jamaica College failing to make the cut, the all-island knockout tournament title is up for grabs, and it is left to be seen if it will remain in the urban area, or if a rural area team will be crowned this year.
Both Kingston College and Dinthill, booked their passaged to the all-island knockout tournament after securing semi-final berths in the Digicel-sponsored Manning Cup and Wata-sponsored daCosta Cup respectively.
The two are set to meet at 3:00pm, before reigning daCosta Cup champions Clarendon College cross swords with St George’s College at 5:00pm.
Details of the first round was revealed during a draw at the national Stadium on Tuesday.
Aside from the two games in Kingston, two other games will take place at the St Elizabeth Technical Sports Complex in Santa Cruz.
There, Hydel High will face Garvey Maceo High in the first game of a double-header, while Mona High takes on Glenmuir High in the second match. Those games are scheduled for 2:00pm and 4:15pm respectively.
The winners will advance to the semi-finals, set for next week Wednesday at the National Stadium.
Clarendon College, Kingston College, STATHS and Jamaica College will contest the semi-finals of the ISSA Champions Cup after securing quarter-final wins when the competition got underway at Sabina Park and STETHS on Saturday.
The first game of the Sabina Park double-header saw defending champions Clarendon College securing a 3-1 win over first-time Super Cup participants Mona High while last year’s beaten finalists Kingston College got a 2-0 win over another first-time participant, Central High, in the second game.
At STETHS, STATHS booked their semi-final spot with a 1-0 win over Manchester High before Jamaica College secured the biggest margin of victory in the quarters, 4-0 over the Manning’s School.
The semi-finals will be played on November 26 at the National Stadium. Jamaica College will take on STATHS before Clarendon College and Kingston College clash in a rematch of last year's final.
In 2019, Clarendon College suffered a heart-breaking 1-0 loss to Kingston College in the final of the ISSA Champions Cup.
Three years later, the Chapleton-based school have gone one better after scoring a 1-0 win over Dinthill Technical at Stadium East to win the ISSA Champions Cup.
In a back-and-forth affair, both teams traded chances throughout the first half before the deadlock was finally broken in the second half when a deflected shot from Jaheim Rose found its way to the feet of Kaheem Dixon who slotted home the decisive goal in the 53rd minute.
Clarendon College are now the second rural-area school to win the Champions Cup joining Cornwall College who won the title in 2018.
For the first time since its inception, the final of the ISSA Champions Cup will be an all daCosta Cup affair.
Clarendon College will contest the final for the second straight edition as they dethroned defending champions Kingston College with a 2-0 win in their 1:00 pm encounter at Stadium East.
Clarendon College, who provided KC with their first loss in schoolboy football this season, took the lead through Keheim Dixon in the 86th minute and the win was all but secured after Christopher Hull finished off a brilliant passing move to double their lead in the 89th minute.
The Chapleton-based school avenged their 1-0 defeat to KC in the final of the Champions Cup in 2019.
Their opponents will be Dinthill Technical who secured a 5-4 penalty shootout over Jamaica College after playing out a 0-0 draw in the 3:15 pm game at Stadium East.
Both teams will be fighting for their first hold of title in the final, which will take place on Saturday, January 15 at 3:00 pm.
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