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 

A new ISSA/Digicel Manning Cup champion will be crowned after Kingston College (KC) registered a decisive 2-0 victory over reigning titleholders Mona High in their Group A quarterfinal showdown at Stadium East on Friday.

Kvist Paul (8th) and Demario Dailey (70th) did the damage for Kingston College in a win that not only ended Mona's campaign but also propelled the North Street-based team into the semifinals alongside Jamaica College (JC), who trounced Tivoli High 4-0 in a simultaneous fixture at the Ashenheim Stadium.

By virtue of the results, Jamaica College topped the group on seven points, one point ahead of Kingston College (six points), while Tivoli High (three points) and Mona High (one point) will now turn their focus to the Walker Cup knockout competition for redemption.

Kingston College’s Head coach, Vassell Reynolds, lauded his team's composure and execution.

"It was a fantastic performance. We knew Mona would come out strong, but the boys stuck to the game plan and delivered when it mattered. Now, we look ahead to the semifinals, but as always, we don’t want to get ahead of ourselves. The aim is to keep the boys grounded and focused, and we will see what happens when that time comes,” Reynolds said.

With a lot at stake for Mona in particular heading into the contest, it was expected to be a close affair, but the manner in which Kingston College started ensured otherwise.

In fact, Mona had very little say in the contest as Kingston College’s show of intent resulted in an early strike inside 10 minutes. Damaine Smith delivered a perfectly placed corner kick, which Paul rose to meet and headed past Mona's goalkeeper, Riquelme Edwards.

Mona High, desperate to respond, almost found themselves further behind in the 15th minute when Dailey fired wide from a promising position.

As Mona struggled to contain Kingston College’s tactical discipline and attacking enterprise, Deshawn Byfield almost added his name to the scoresheet but had his effort dramatically cleared off the line by Dante Peralto.

Despite KC’s dominance, Mona’s goalkeeper Edwards produced a string of superb saves to keep his team in contention.

Just before halftime, he acrobatically parried a powerful shot from Kajay Fletcher, diving full stretch to his right, and Byfield failed to capitalize on the rebound.

Seconds later, Edwards was called upon again to deny a stinging shot from Smith.

Matrim Martin then unleashed a venomous right-footer, but Edwards once more stood tall, ensuring the scoreline remained 1-0 at the break. 

The purples continued to assert their authority on the resumption as Dailey threatened in the 68th with a firm shot from close range that went straight at Edwards.

However, the Kingston College striker, sporting the number nine jersey, made amends two minutes later. Sent on his way by a brisk through pass, Dailey powered a low drive past a flat-footed Edwards to double Kingston College’s lead and effectively end Mona’s hopes of a comeback.

Jamaica College (JC) once again demonstrated why they are a force to be reckoned with, as they made light work of rivals Kingston College (KC) with a comfortable 3-0 win in their ISSA/Digicel Group A quarterfinal encounter at Stadium East on Tuesday.

Led by Nashordo Gibbs’ 18th-minute penalty and a pair of clinical strikes from Jamoy Dennis (31st and 33rd) in quick succession, Jamaica College controlled the one-sided affair from start to finish, rarely allowing Kingston College to find a foothold.

With the win, Jamaica College moved into pole position in the group on four points, relegating Kingston College into second on three points. Tivoli Gardens (three points) kept their hopes of a semi-final berth alive with a surprise 3-1 win over reigning champions Mona High (one point) in the other group contest.

Jamaica College’s Head coach Davion Ferguson, expressed delight at the outcome.

“We understand the competition in terms of how we prepare to peak at the right time. Today was a difficult game, the scoreline might seem as if it was easy but it was a tough game because we played three days ago, and the key was just to get the boys recovered to come here and deliver a good performance.

“At this stage of the competition, it is not about the number in terms of goals, but more about continuity to ensure we consistently secure the three points,” Ferguson said.

His counterpart Vassell Reynolds, also had a positive outlook.

“I don’t think the scoreline was a true reflection of the game, but congrats to JC, they punished us. I thought that we gave away two easy silly goals, we weren’t concentrating, especially on the set plays. So there is no reason to be disappointed or hard on the boys, we just made some errors and we paid for them so it is just about refocusing and come again on Friday,” Reynolds said.

Jamaica College asserted their intent early, with a warning shot just seven minutes in as Donte Logan’s long-range effort forced Kingston College’s goalkeeper Malique Williams to tip the ball over the crossbar.

Excelsior in Group B action against Campion College which served as the curtain-raiser of the double header.

Dennis, an ever-present threat, continued to test Williams, firing off a quick shot in the ninth minute from Jabarie Howell’s pass, and then a powerful strike from just outside the box four minutes later, both of which were kept out by the custodian.

However, Jamaica College’s breakthrough inevitably came when Gibbs, a former Kingston College player, converted from the penalty spot after Jamone Lyle drew a crucial handball from Dejuan Green inside the area.

That opener laid the foundation for what would become a commanding performance as Kingston College's best chance of the game came in the 27th minute when Damaine Smith delivered a pinpoint cross to Deshawn Byfield, whose effort from point blank range was kept out by an alert Taywane Lynch in goal for Jamaica College.

Jamaica College quickly doubled their lead just four minutes later. Gibbs slipped past his marker and sent a precise pass to Dennis, who calmly slotted the ball past Williams to make it 2-0.

Barely two minutes later, Giovani Taylor capitalized on Kingston College’s defence that appeared momentarily disoriented from a quick free-kick, sending another slick pass to Dennis, who made no mistake in finishing his brace and putting Jamaica College 3-0 up.

The Old Hope Road boys again went close through Dyllan John, whose shot hit the upright in the 40th minute, adding to Kington College’s mounting frustrations.

Still, the North Street boys tried to fight back, with Shareef Ricketts attempting a powerful left-footed strike from distance in stoppage time, but Lynch proved equal to the task to preserve the shutout heading into the break.

The second half was a quieter affair as Jamaica College shifted gears to control possession and manage their lead.

Though showing more positive signs in attack, Kingston College’s struggles were compounded when Green received a second yellow card in the 86th minute, as they not only finished the game with 10 men but will be missing his presence in midfield when they take on Mona on Friday.

Tuesday’s Results

Hydel 2, St Catherine 0

Campion College 2, Excelsior 0

Jamaica College 3, Kingston College 0

Mona High 1, Tivoli Gardens 3

Former champions Kingston College produced a five-star performance to open the Inter-secondary Schools Sports Association (ISSA)/Digicel Manning Cup quarterfinal round in commanding fashion as they blanked Tivoli High 5-0, while reigning champions Mona High and Jamaica College played out a 1-1 stalemate in the Group A double-header at Stadium East on Friday.

A brace from Damaine Smith (3rd and 19th) and one each from Matrim Martin (32nd), Kamaul Patterson (45+3) and Deshawn Byfield (51st) got the job done for Kingston College in the lopsided feature contest.

Meanwhile in the curtain-raiser, Sean Leighton’s 35th-minute strike for Mona High was cancelled out by Jamaica College’s captain Dyllan John, who converted a 65th-minute penalty to secure his team a share of the spoils.

With the result, Kingston College took command of the group on three points, while Jamaica College and Mona trail with a point each. Tivoli will have to play catch up from the foot of the four-team standing.

Kingston College were always favoured to take three points off Tivoli High, and they did so with consummate ease in what was a showcase of their offensive prowess and defensive strength as they overwhelmed the opponents from start to finish.

The famed purples wasted little time to break the deadlock as Smith got on the end of a weighted pass and easily fired past Daniel Bailey in goal for Tivoli High.

Their precise passing and tactical awareness kept Tivoli on the back foot, and it was another of those passes from the back that sent Smith on his way to complete his brace with another simple finish.

That brace set the tone for what would be a long and arduous game for Tivoli High, who soon found themselves 3-0 down when Shareef Ricketts’ weighted corner kick picked out Martin at the far post and the Guyanese made no mistakes from goalmouth.

Struggling to find any answer to the waves of attacks that Kingston College unleashed, the West Kingston team were left visibly demoralized as another weighted freekick from Ricketts eluded defenders and Patterson capitalised at the far post to make it 4-0 at the break.

The second half saw no reprieve for Tivoli High, as Kingston College continued to drive forward with confidence and added to their tally six minutes in when Byfield fired home after Smith’s effort burst through the hands of the hapless Bailey.

Tivoli High tried to play their game when Kingston College eased up a bit, but their offensive efforts were always easily thwarted by the North Street-based team’s backline long before they posed any real threat.

Kingston College’s Head coach, Vassell Reynolds, praised his players for their discipline and focus.

“We really wanted to get three points today because that put us in good stead to push on for the remainder of this round, and I thought the boys responded well and did pretty well. So I am pretty satisfied with our conversion rate and the overall performance,” Vassell said in a post-game interview.

Tivoli’s assistant coach, Lance DaCosta, believes a lapse in concentration resulted in the loss but backed his team to bounce back against Mona and Jamaica College.

“I think we struggled defensively; we made too many errors, and they cost us. At this stage we should be more mature and more focused, but we just have to motivate them and try to win our next two games to advance,” he said.

Earlier in what was one of the season’s most anticipated clashes, Mona forced the initiative and camped out in Jamaica College’s quarters in the early exchanges. They took a few cracks at target, which tested Taywane Lynch, but the Jamaica College custodian proved equal to the task on each occasion.

Jamaica College eventually found their footing in attack and thought they had the go-ahead goal in the 28th when Giovanni Taylor fired home from close range, but it was controversially called back for an offside.

Mona eventually grabbed the ascendancy when Leighton finished his fifth goal of the season with aplomb after Robino Gordon’s effort was saved to make it 1-0 at the break.

However, Jamaica College pulled level five minutes past the hour mark when John fired home from the 12-yard spot after being awarded a controversial penalty.

Friday’s results

Mona 1, Jamaica College 1

Kingston College 5, Tivoli High 0

St Catherine 3, Campion College 0

Hydel vs Excelsior (Postponed)

Campion College and Hydel High booked their spots in the Inter-secondary Schools Sports Association (ISSA)/Digicel Manning Cup quarterfinal round after both registered 1-0 wins over St Jago and Wolmer’s Boys in their respective second round group encounters on Friday.

The win for Campion College saw them finish second in Group One on six points, behind reigning champions Mona High, who blanked many times champion St George’s College 3-0 to finish on maximum nine points.

St George’s placed third on three points and missed out on the quarterfinal along with St Jago, who ended without point. However, both will have a shot at the Walker Cup knockout title.

The same is true for perennial semi-finalist St Andrew Technical High School (STATHS) and 10-time winners Wolmer's Boys, who were both eliminated from the Manning Cup.

Wolmer’s Boys’ loss to Hydel saw them finish at the foot of Group Three with a point, while STATHS’ 1-0 win over group winners Kingston College was not enough to see them through. They finished third on four points, as Kingston College and Hydel took the top two spots with six points each.

Kingston College, Campion College, Mona High and Hydel are joined by Group Four leaders St Catherine (six points) and Group Two leaders Excelsior (six points) in the quarterfinal, with Jamaica College, Tivoli Gardens and Eltham on the hunt for the other two spots.

Friday’s results

Campion College 1, St Jago 0

Mona High 3, St George’s College 0

Hydel High 1, Wolmer’s Boys 0

STATHS 1, Kingston College 0

Saturday’s fixtures

St Catherine vs Jamaica College

Calabar vs Charlie Smith

Excelsior vs Jonathan Grant

Tivoli Gardens vs Eltham

*All games are scheduled for 3:00pm

Former champions Kingston College continued their rich scoring form in the Inter-secondary Schools Sports Association (ISSA)/Digicel Manning Cup as they hammered Hydel High 6-1 to kick start the second round in a dominant manner at Stadium East on Saturday.

Having tallied 71 goals in the first round of the competition, Kingston College showed that they are by no means scored out as they overwhelmed a timid-looking Hydel unit with consummate ease.

Deshawn Byfield led the way with a brace in the 36th and 77th minutes, while Kamaul Patterson (8th), Kvist Paul (20th), Shereef Ricketts (57th), and Zaire Douse (86th) got the others.

Captain Ronaldo Barrett (72nd) got Hydel's consolation from the penalty spot.

The win pushed Kingston College into pole position in Group Three, ahead of St Andrew Technical (STATHS) and Wolmer's Boys on a point each. Hydel will have to play catch up from the foot of the four-team standing as only the top two progress to the quarterfinals.

Winning coach Vassell Reynolds attributed their performance to proper preparation and efficient execution.

"We spoke about our goalscoring exploits, and we rode on it today; we had no doubt that we would have created opportunities; it's just a matter of whether we would have made good use of them, and we did that very well. One of the other contributors to this win is the fact that we were well prepared for this; we did some work against our opponents, and it worked well, and I'm proud of the youngsters," Reynolds said.

It was expected to be a more competitive encounter, and the manner in which Hydel started hinted at that possibility, as Shannon Power got off their first warning shot from close range in the sixth minute.

However, Kingston College quickly found their rhythm and broke the deadlock two minutes later when Patterson headed home at the far post from Jaeshawn Edwards' weighted corner kick.

As the heavy rains poured down, Kingston College unlocked the floodgates, and before Hydel could catch their breaths, they were hit again in the 20th when Paul converted a free header at the far post from another weighted cross, this time from captain Kimani Reece in the 20th.

It should have been three minutes later as Byfield went on the break down the right channel and played a pass across the face of goal, but Damaine Smith failed to apply the finishing touch from close range.

Kingston College again went close in the 26th when Patterson rifled one from a distance, but Daquan Jemison, in goal for Hydel, did well to parry.

The North Street boys inevitably increased their tall courtesy of the menacing Byfield, who tucked away an effort from deep inside the 18-yard box to make it 3-0 at the break.

With a handsome lead under their belt, Kingston College gradually eased up on the resumption, but such was the lack of resistance from Hydel that they continued to score at will. The fourth goal came 12 minutes after the break when Ricketts drove a left-footer past substitute keeper Idrian Robinson.

Hydel eventually showed some semblance of like in attack and pulled one back when captain Barrett converted from the 12-yard spot.

But it was back to regular proceedings for Kingston College two minutes later when Byfield finished a rebound after Robinson pushed Ricketts' initial effort into his path.

And as if things couldn't get any worse for Hydel, Douse, with his first touch mere seconds after coming onto the pitch, drove home a delightful strike on the volley from the top of the 18-yard box after Robinson's weak punch fell perfectly into his path.

Hydel's Head coach, Devon Anderson, was bitterly disappointed with the outcome.

"This is definitely not how we wanted to start the second round but we failed to contest the crosses coming into the box and so we were left with the bitter end of the stick. Football is a game of competing with and for the ball and we didn't do that; Kingston College did so kudos to them," Anderson stated.

Saturday's results

Jamaica College 3, Calabar 3

Eltham 2, Excelsior 3

Kingston College 6, Hydel 1

Campion College 3, St George’s College 0

St Catherine 1, Charlie Smith 0

Tivoli Gardens 5, Jonathan Grant 0

Tivoli Gardens High School delivered a statement victory on Thursday, defeating Wolmer’s Boys’ 4-2 in an action-packed ISSA/Digicel Manning Cup Zone E showdown. Tivoli's win, led by two goals each from Ryan-Oneil Francis and Kaqummarie McKoy, saw them finish the preliminary round at the top of the group.

Francis opened the scoring in the 12th minute, giving Tivoli an early lead. McKoy doubled their advantage with a well-taken goal in the 24th minute, putting the hosts in control by halftime. Wolmer’s came out strong in the second half, with Daniel Scarlett pulling one back in the 51st minute, injecting hope into the visitors.

However, Tivoli responded emphatically. McKoy netted his second in the 68th minute, followed by Francis’s second in the 75th minute to make it 4-1, putting the game beyond Wolmer’s reach. Scarlett managed a late consolation goal in the 82nd minute, scoring his second of the match, but it wasn’t enough to prevent Tivoli from securing a crucial 4-2 win.

With the victory, Tivoli Gardens leapfrogged Wolmer’s to finish atop Zone E with 27 points. Wolmer’s, who finished two points behind Tivoli, secured second place. St Jago High, meanwhile, wrapped up third place with 19 points after a dominant 4-0 win over Denham Town, who finished in fourth with seven points.

Other Results from Thursday’s Manning Cup Matches:

Kingston College and Campion College battled to a thrilling 2-2 draw, a result that saw both teams share the points in their final preliminary round match.
St Jago High comfortably defeated Denham Town 4-0, securing third place in Zone E behind Tivoli Gardens and Wolmer’s Boys’.

As the Manning Cup progresses to the next stage, Tivoli Gardens' momentum from topping Zone E makes them a strong contender, while Wolmer’s and other teams will look to regroup and push further in the competition.

Five-time 100m world champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce is set to continue her illustrious track career for yet another season, despite facing significant injury challenges throughout 2024.

However, the sprinting legend will reportedly do so under new guidance. Sportsmax.TV understands that Fraser-Pryce will be leaving Reynaldo Walcott, the coach she helped establish at Elite Performance Track Club.

Fraser-Pryce, who has been hampered by a persistent knee injury over the past few seasons, made the decision to move on after a reportedly frosty relationship developed between her and Walcott during the 2024 season. Calls and a Whatsapp message to Coach Walcott went unanswered.

Though her next coaching destination remains unclear, Sportsmax understands that the two-time Olympic 100m gold medalist has moved to put together a team to guide her through the upcoming season.

The name of Andre Wellington has surfaced as the person who will be among Fraser-Pryce’s new coaching outfit. Wellington has coached World U20 100m silver medalist Bouwahghie Nkrumie at Kingston College (KC). He was a member of the Racers Track Club between 2011 and 2012.

Fraser-Pryce had been a founding member of Elite Performance Track Club, partnering with Walcott in early 2020 during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Under his guidance, The 37-year-old sprint queen achieved remarkable success, notably lowering her personal best from 10.70 to 10.60 seconds. In 2022, she became the first woman to run sub-10.7 seconds on seven occasions in a single season and secured her fifth 100m world title in Eugene, Oregon.

However, since that stellar 2022 season, injuries have taken their toll on the Jamaican icon. In 2023, at the World Championships in Budapest, Fraser-Pryce finished third in the 100m, a notable drop from her dominant form the previous year. Her performance at the 2024 Paris Olympics was further curtailed, as she withdrew from the semi-finals for reasons that remain undisclosed.

Fraser-Pryce’s decision to continue competing, despite these setbacks, underscores her determination to finish her career on her own terms.

As the first Jamaican woman to win an Olympic 100m title in Beijing 2008, she has remained a dominant force in global athletics for over a decade. Now, with a fresh team in her corner, the sprinting icon is focused on overcoming the injuries that have plagued her and making yet another remarkable run in 2025.

The news, if confirmed, followed a recent development this wherein Olympic 110m bronze medalist Rasheed Broadbell has also left Elite Performance for the MVP Track Club.

Kingston College, Jamaica College and Excelsior High all scored massive wins in ISSA/Digicel Manning Cup action on Wednesday.

KC hit seven past Meadowbrook High at Meadowbrook to remain atop Zone C with 13 points from five games.

Elsewhere in Zone C, Campion College dispatched Penwood 2-0 to draw level on 10 points with their opponents who are in second place on goal difference.

Jose Marti Technical edged Cumberland High 2-1 in the St. Catherine derby in the day’s other Zone C clash.

Zone F action saw leaders Jamaica College defeat Bridgeport High 9-0 with Giovanni Taylor bagging four goals as the standout performer. Excelsior High hammered Pembroke Hall 11-0 in the other game from the zone.

In Zone D, Vauxhall High grabbed a late equalizer to secure a 1-1 draw against Camperdown High to remain unbeaten this season.

STATHS displayed a vintage performance as they held firm to secure their third win of the season with a 1-0 victory versus Haile Selassie and remain top of the zone with 10 points from their four outings.

Defending champions Mona High extended their unbeaten run to four games in the 2024 ISSA Manning Cup on Saturday.

They secured a 3-0 victory over Charlie Smith High to move to 12 points from a possible 12 atop Zone B.

Jonathan Grant remain second in Zone B, three points behind Mona after a 1-0 win over Tarrant High.

The day’s other Zone B game saw Waterford High get their first points of the season with a massive 9-0 win over Gaynstead High.

Kingston College still hold the lead in Zone C on goal difference over Penwood after a 5-0 win over Campion College.

KC now has 10 points from four games with a goal difference of 25, 11 more than Penwood who also have 10 points after a 1-0 win over Jose Marti.

In the day’s lone Zone G encounter, St. George’s College and St. Catherine High played out a 0-0 draw.

Saturday’s action across six games in the ISSA Manning Cup was truly spectacular, producing 52 goals including a brutal 18-0 victory for Kingston College over Cumberland High at Stadium East to make up for their opening 2-2 draw with Penwood High on matchday one.

DeShawn Byfield and Kajay Fletcher split eight goals between them for the North Street school.

Demario Daley and Kamaul Patterson also had prolific days in front of goal, each securing hat-tricks as KC moved to the top of Zone C with four points and a goal difference of 18.

Jamaica College were also in a dominant mood on Saturday, blanking Ascot High 11-0 to move to w=two wins in as many games in Zone F.

Papine High were also victim of a ruthless beating on Saturday, 10-0 at the hand of St. George’s College at Papine.

STGC takes sole leadership of Zone G ahead of St. Catherine High opened their season with a 4-0 victory against Holy Trinity after being awarded the points for their first fixture versus Norman Manley.

Excelsior High defeated Bridgeport High 7-1 as they prepared for their encounter against Jamaica College in Zone F.

St. Andrew Technical High School held firm and showed resilience as they defeated Calabar High 1-0 at The Boys Town football field in Zone D.

Jonathan Grant High took the early lead in Zone B of the 2024 ISSA Manning Cup thanks to a 9-0 hammering of Gaynstead High at the Papine High School field on Monday.

The 1999 Walker Cup champions lead defending Manning Cup title holders Mona High by two goals on goal difference after the first round of matches in Zone B.

In the other Zone B game on Monday, three-time Manning Cup champions Charlie Smith defeated Tarrant High 4-0 at Jacisera Park.

In Zone C, 16-time winners Kingston College had a disappointing start to their season with a 2-2 draw against Penwood High at Maverley Field.

Campion College took the early lead in Zone C thanks to a 4-0 win over Cumberland High at Cumberland while Jose Marti scored a big win of their own, 5-2 over Meadowbrook at Meadowbrook, to slot in at second on goal difference.

Tivoli Gardens High took the early lead in Zone D thanks to a 4-1 win over Denham Town High at Tivoli.

10-time Manning Cup winners Wolmer’s Boys also opened their season with a win, 3-1 over St. Jago High at St. Jago.

St. Mary’s College and Edith Dalton James High played out a 1-1 draw in the day’s other Zone D encounter.

The 2024 edition of the David “Wagga” Hunt Football Classic is set to kick off this Saturday, August 17, at the UWI Mona Bowl, promising an afternoon of thrilling football action and a celebration of legacy. The event, now in its 14th year, will feature three highly anticipated matchups that highlight the enduring impact of David "Wagga" Hunt on Jamaican football and his commitment to youth development.

 The day’s activities will begin at 2:00 PM with a clash between the UWI Pelicans and St. Georges Masters, setting the stage for what promises to be an action-packed event. Following this, the home team August Town, representing the Super League, will face off against Premier League giants Harbour View. The excitement will reach its peak with the feature match at 4:30 PM, as Kingston College takes on their long-time rivals, Calabar High School, in a preseason classic that is sure to ignite the competitive spirit of both teams.

 The David "Wagga" Hunt Football Classic is more than just a series of football matches; it is a tribute to the late David “Wagga” Hunt, a revered figure in Jamaican football. Hunt, an alumnus of Kingston College, is best remembered for his transformative work at Calabar High School, where he revived the football program and led the team to its first Manning Cup and Olivier Shield titles in 28 years in 2005. His mantra, “We can be rivals, not enemies,” exemplified the sportsmanship and unity he championed throughout his career. Since his untimely passing in 2007, the Classic has served as a platform to preserve his legacy and continue his mission of empowering youth through sport.

 The Football Classic is a crucial event for the David “Wagga” Hunt Foundation, which was established in 2008 by Hunt’s family and friends to support needy students from Kingston College and Calabar High School. The Foundation’s scholarship program, which began in 2009, awards two grade eight students from each school with a scholarship valued at J$150,000.00 annually, covering books, lunch, and other related expenses through to grade 13. Over the years, the Foundation has awarded 46 scholarships totaling J$22.4 million, along with an additional J$4 million in direct support to the schools. Each scholarship recipient also receives a computer to aid in their studies. Selection criteria for the scholarships include financial need, academic performance, participation in sports or extracurricular activities, attendance, deportment, and discipline, ensuring that the recipients embody the values that Hunt held dear.

 The Football Classic is part of a trio of events organized by the David “Wagga” Hunt Foundation each year, alongside the prestigious Red Carpet Fundraising Ball in Washington, D.C., and the Annual Scholarship Awards ceremony in Jamaica. Christopher Hunt, David’s brother, spearheads the Foundation’s efforts from Washington, leading the Diaspora team behind the Red Carpet Ball. Meanwhile, the Jamaica Organizing Team, led by Co‐Chair Arnold “Dullo” McDonald, oversees the Football Classic and the Scholarship Awards Ceremony, ensuring the smooth execution of these significant events.

Corporate sponsorship has played a vital role in sustaining the David “Wagga” Hunt Foundation’s mission, with Victoria Mutual being a steadfast supporter since the Foundation’s inception. Other key sponsors include Supreme Ventures Limited, Proven Wealth Management, Grace Foods USA, and the Gibson McCook Relays Committee, along with numerous other corporate and individual donors who contribute to the ongoing funding of the scholarships.

As the 2024 David “Wagga” Hunt Football Classic approaches, anticipation is building for what promises to be a day filled with competitive football, camaraderie, and a reaffirmation of the values that David Hunt championed throughout his life. The event not only honors his legacy but also continues to provide critical support to the next generation of Jamaican students, ensuring that Hunt’s impact on the lives of young people endures for years to come.

Kingston College made it three Championship of America 4x400m titles in a row with a comfortable win in the event on the third and final day of the 128^th Penn Relays at Franklin Field in Philadelphia on Saturday.

Their quartet of Antonio Forbes, Amal Glasgow, Roshawn Lee and Marcinho Rose combined to run 3:11.86 to win ahead of Excelsior (3:12.94) and Bullis School (3:13.10).

Elsewhere, Jamaica College won their second Championship of America 4x800m relay in three years.

Their team of Nellie Amberton, Samuel Creary, Rasheed Pryce and Kemarrio Bygrave produced a time of 7:42.37 to win ahead of St. John’s College (7:44.66) and Central Bucks West (7:45.99).

Excelsior High emerged victorious in the Championship of America High School Boys 4x100m on the third and final day at the 128^th Penn Relays at Franklin Field in Philadelphia on Saturday.

Their quartet of Ryeem Walker, Damor Miller, Malike Nugent and Lennon Green combined to run 40.45 to secure the school’s first win in the event since 1967.

Kingston College (Daniel Clarke, Yourie Lawrence-Clarke, Nyrone Wade, Marcinho Rose) were second in 40.53 and Herbert Morrison (Ky-Mani Hemmings, Tavaine Stewart, Chance Segree, De Andre Daley) completed a Jamaican 1-2-3 with 40.56 in third.