Champions Cup returns with rematch, tournament debuts
Published:Saturday | November 19, 2022 | 12:06 AMDaniel Wheeler/Staff Reporter
The 2022 edition of the ISSA Champions Cup begins today featuring tournament debuts and a 2018 rematch as the battle for rural and urban bragging rights commences.
In the doubleheader at St Elizabeth Technical High, Manchester High will face St Andrew Technical High (STATHS) at 2 p.m. before Jamaica College face Manning’s School at 4:15 p.m. The opener will be a rematch of their 2018 first-round encounter where STATHS prevailed 4-2 after extra time, sending Manchester High home. Manchester High’s latest quest for silverware comes after booking their first daCosta Cup semifinal appearance since 2015 after a perfect run in the quarterfinals.
Johnoy Chambers, coach of Manchester, said while the entire school community is excited to be in this competition, they will not be overwhelmed by the occasion.
“Basically, we are just treating it as any other competition. The boys are excited but we are keeping them grounded and hopefully will play our best football like we’ve been doing since the second round,” Chambers said. “We won’t let the occasion get the better of us. I don’t see any nerves or anything like that. They are all eager and ready to go. Everybody is pumped, all players are available and everybody wants to play.”
For STATHS, it is their fifth straight trip to the Champions Cup dating back to 2017 when it was then called the Super Cup. STATHS were hit by the flu bug during their final Manning Cup quarterfinal game in November against Jamaica College but head coach Philip Williams was optimistic about his team’s recovery in time for the game.
“We rested a number of players (against Jamaica College) because of the flu and because we pushed them hard in the last game. Our immediate concern is to get the players healthy and back up to full strength,” Williams said.
JC are hoping to repeat the success of 2014 in the Super Cup era. The Dark Blues have yet to be beaten in the Manning Cup campaign securing yet another semifinal berth, winning all three of their quarterfinal group games. For Manning’s, they are making back-to-back appearances in the Champions Cup after securing back-to-back daCosta Cup semifinal appearances. Manning’s head coach Everton Tomlinson says he is looking forward to showcasing the strength of his team on a bigger stage.
“We are looking forward to the Champions Cup with the exposure of playing against Corporate Area teams. We want to match strides with them playing our best brand of football and leave a mark. We want to see how far we can go and possibly win both competitions which would be a remarkable feat,” Tomlinson said.
At Sabina Park, defending champions Clarendon College will face first-time qualifiers Mona High in the first game of the doubleheader at 4:15 p.m. Including the Super Cup era, no team has won back-to-back titles and only two rural schools have won the title since 2014. Clarendon College head coach Lenworth Hyde says he is optimistic about their chances of retaining the title given their play so far this season.
“I am confident in how we are playing. I am looking forward to those matchups in the midfield but I am confident we can go out and give our best. Wherever that takes us, we will be appreciative of that but we are aiming to defend our title,” Hyde said Mona qualified for the semifinals of the Manning Cup for the first time. Mona won 14 matches this season before seeing their unbeaten streak ended by Kingston College last Saturday in their final quarterfinal game. While respecting the work that their opponents have done this year, assistant coach Kyle Butler says that they will have no fear in their approach.
“We know that Clarendon are a great team. I admire their programme very much. It’s open for everything. I know that they know that Mona will compete as well. We are not just going to sit back. We are going to fight them and play them with everything,” Butler said.
The second game will see KC face newcomers Central High at 6:15 p.m. Kingston College are seeking their third title against Central High who are enjoying their best season, after qualifying for the daCosta Cup semifinals for the first time.
Today’s games
Venue: St Elizabeth Technical High
Manchester High vs St Andrew Technical High - 2 p.m.
Jamaica College vs Manning’s School - 4:15 p.m.
Venue: Sabina Park
Clarendon College vs Mona High - 4 p.m.
Kingston College vs Central High - 6:15 p.m.