STETHS resume mission for triple

Adrian Frater, News Editor

Western Bureau:

With the Ben Francis Cup now safely stashed away in their trophy cabinet, St Elizabeth Technical High School (STETHS) will resume the defence of their ISSA/Pepsi/Digicel daCosta Cup title this afternoon with a first-round inter-zone clash against Spaldings High at Brooks Park in Mandeville.

The much-anticipated Group Four fixture, which is set to kick-off at 1 p.m., is the first of a scheduled double-header at the Manchester venue. Last year's beaten finalists, Manchester High, will meet Munro College in the second game, a Group Three fixture, slated to start 3 p.m.

"Now that we have won the Ben Francis Cup our focus is now retaining the daCosta Cup," said head coach Andrew Edwards, who is seeking to create a football dynasty at STETHS.

"Our target this year is to win the three major schoolboy titles (daCosta Cup, Ben Francis Cup and Olivier Shield)," he added.

In addition to the Brooks Park double-header, there will be another 10 games this afternoon as the 24 inter-zone qualifiers - divided into six groups - will be on show. The six group winners and the top two second-place finishers will advance to the competition's quarter-final round.

Among the other top-flight games scheduled for this afternoon are the Group Two showdown between Spot Valley and eight-time champions, Rusea's, at Jarrett Park; the Group One face-off between 2008 winners, St James High and 2003 champions, Frome Technical, at the Frome Sports Ground; and the Group Six clash between beaten Ben Francis KO finalist, Paul Bogle High, and former champions Garvey Maceo, at York Oval.

Still smarting from their upset first round Ben Francis exit against Mannings, the much-vaunted Rusea's will be gunning to return with a bang against surprise Zone A qualifiers, Spot Valley. However, while they should start favourites, it could be a colossal error on the part of the 'Russians' if they go into the game underrating their sprightly opponents.

"We believe we have a team to go very far in this competition and we will be throwing everything we have into every game," said Spot Valley's Preston Bernard, whose team advanced ahead of Cornwall College, William Knibb and Muschett High. "We have done well so far and our aim is to keep getting better."

St James High, which fell prey to champions STETHS in the Ben Francis semi-final, primarily on account of poor goalkeeping, is hell-bent on making amends for that disappointment by winning the daCosta Cup.

However, today's game against Frome Technical could turn out to be a stern test as the Westmoreland team has always proved to be quite a tough opponent on the familiar Frome Sports Ground.

"We believe we should have won the Ben Francis Cup but that is now history," said Pastor Hugh Solomon, the coach of St James High. "We are determined to make amends by winning the daCosta Cup."

The York Oval showdown between the wounded Paul Bogle High and Garvey Maceo should be worth travelling miles to see, as both teams are quite gutsy and have the capacity to produce thrilling football.

Following their commendable showing against STETHS in the Ben Francis final, the Paul Bogle team could hang tough, especially if they have regained the swagger they took to Montego Bay.

"We really wanted to take the Ben Francis Cup to the east, but it was not to be," said Paul Bogle's coach, Winston Downie. "We are now even more determined that we want to win the daCosta Cup."

Games on

Group One:- Marcus Garvey vs St Mary High at Drax Hall at 3 p.m., Frome Technical vs St James at Frome at 3 p.m.

Group Two:- Spot Valley vs Rusea's at Jarrett Park at 3 p.m., St Mary Technical vs Brown's Town at Highgate Community Centre at 3 p.m.

Group Three:- Lennon vs Mannings at Jamalco at 1 p.m., Manchester High vs Munro at Brook's Park at 3 p.m.

Group Four:- Spaldings vs STETHS at Brooks Park at 1 p.m., Clarendon College vs Grange Hill at Jamalco at 3 p.m.

Group Five:- Buff Bay vs Charlemont at Carder Park at 1 p.m., St Thomas Technical vs Glenmuir at York Oval at 1 p.m.

Group Six:- Paul Bogle vs Garvey Maceo at York Oval at 3 p.m., Titchfield vs Old Harbour at Carder Park at 3 p.m.