StGC, Calabar in big Manning clash

Robert Bailey, Gleaner Writer

A mouth-watering showdown is expected today when two former champions, St George's College (StGC) and Calabar High, clash in the feature game of the final round of matches in Group H of the Inter-Secondary Schools Sports Association (ISSA)/Gatorade/ Digicel Manning Cup competition at the Constant Spring Sports Complex, starting at 3 p.m.

The will be preceded by an encounter between Penwood and Camperdown at 1 p.m.

Nineteen-time champions StGC are seeking the urban area senior schoolboy football double, having already booked a place in the Walker Cup knockout final, after thrashing Calabar 5-0 in the semi-finals.

With only the winners of the four groups progressing to the semi-finals, StGC have a slight edge as they have a plus six goal difference to their opponents' plus five. Both teams are on six points.

The Neville 'Bertis' Bell-coached Light Blues, whose 11-game unbeaten run will also be on the line, said his team is expecting a tougher game from their opponents today.

"We have forgotten that (Walker Cup win), we were very, very pleased with that victory, we are very happy that it got us into the Walker Cup final, but we know that this is going to be a different day," Bell said.

"They were not at full strength that day and they also went down to 10 men very early in the game, which I am sure had a lot to do with the 5-0 victory," he said

Bell added: "They (Calabar) are a very good team, they have very good players, they have an experienced coach and they play very good football."

The North Street-based StGC will be led by top marksman Kendon Anderson, who has netted 20 goals in all competitions to date, including a hat-trick in his team's Walker Cup semi-final win over Calabar. Anderson is expected to receive good support from national Under-17 players André Lewis, Cardel Benbow, Adrian Jenkins, Romario Jones and goalkeeper Nico Campbell.

Hungry for glory

Calaba's coach Marvin Tate said he has no plans to allow StGC such fortune again, as they are hungry for glory and to avenge their only loss of the season.

"The players basically just want to win, because they want to present the school with the gift for centenary celebrations," Tate said.

"We want to avenge the loss, but the main focus is just to win the Manning Cup," he said.

Tate added: "It is more like a final. We realise that any team that wins this game there is a possibility they are the team that will be winning the Manning Cup."

Tate will, for the first time in weeks, have his full squad at his disposal, as leading scorer Kyle Scott (13) has recovered from a broken metatarsal and will be a force to be reckoned with, in tandem with Chevonne 'Messi' Marsh, captain Wilbourne Williams and Saskie Daley.