Calabar, St GC in big Walker Cup clash

Robert Bailey, Gleaner Writer

The finalists for this season's Inter-Secondary Schools Sports Association (ISSA)/Gatorade/ Digicel Walker Cup knockout senior schoolboy football competition will be decided today in the semi-finals at Constant Spring Sports Complex.

In the curtain-raiser at 1 p.m. unbeaten Kingston College (KC), with national youth players Jhamie Hyde and Romario Williams, will go up against a very dangerous Camperdown side, while at 3 p.m. Calabar High, with their inspirational playmaker Chevonne 'Messi' Marsh, will face a St George's College (StGC) team which includes five members of Jamaica's Under-17 team that participated in the FIFA Youth World Cup in Mexico earlier this year.

KC, who edged Charlie Smith 1-0 in the quarter-finals last Friday, will start their match as favourites.

"We are confident because have been playing fairly well and so it is now up to our boys to go and win the game," said Trevor 'Jumpy' Harris, head coach of KC.

Camperdown triumphed 5-4 on penalties over Bridgeport in the quarter-finals, after both teams played to a 1-1 regulation time score.

"This a big game for us because KC are unbeaten and they are one of the best teams in the Manning Cup," said Christopher Bender, Camperdown's coach. "We are the underdogs, but I am confident that we can come out on top."

In the second match, fireworks are expected when unbeaten teams Calabar and StGC clash.

The Marvin Tate-coached Calabar recorded an impressive 5-1 victory over defending champions Jamaica College, while StGC recorded an easy 3-0 victory over Hydel in the quarter-finals.

Raring to go

"We have some quality players in my team that can match up with the St George's College team," said Tate. "We have a bench that is very deep and so everyone is confident and raring to go."

Tate's opposite, Neville 'Bertis' Bell, is also full of confidence.

"Calabar is a good team and so I am really looking forward to the game," said Bell. "We know that it is going to be tough for us, but we are confident that we can come out as the winners."

Striker Kendon Anderson, who has scored 12 goals this season, along with national players André Lewis, Oshane Jenkins, Romario Jones, Cardel Benbow and goalkeeper Nico Campbell, will lead the Light Blues' charge for a spot in the final.