Manning Cup final preview highlights Champions Cup semis
Published:Saturday | November 26, 2022 | 12:08 AMDaniel Wheeler/Staff Reporter
For the third time in five seasons, Jamaica College (JC) and St Andrew Technical High School (STATHS) will face each other for the ISSA/Digicel Manning Cup title. But fans will have a chance for a preview of what’s in store as the two schools battle for a spot in the Champions Cup final.
Their second meeting of the schoolboy football season will take place in the semifinals of the ISSA/WATA Champions Cup this afternoon at 4 o’clock at the National Stadium.
On one hand, it would be considered a prelude to next Friday’s Manning Cup final after semi-final victories on Tuesday, but it also represents an opportunity for JC head coach Davion Ferguson to continue the pursuit for all trophies on offer this year.
The title played for by the best of both rural and urban schools is a piece of silverware that has eluded Ferguson in the three years since he has taken over the mantle at JC, who still have the possibility of capturing all the titles they are allowed to play for.
“That Champions Cup is a competition that I have never won, but to be honest I have never taken it seriously and this year we want to take it seriously. I think we have the squad, the depth and the condition of the group,” Ferguson said. JC defeated Manning’s School 4-0 in their quarterfinal tie last Saturday. Including the Super Cup era, JC have only won the title once.
Ferguson’s Champions Cup counterpart at STATHS, Philip Williams, is also contemplating success in with the Manning Cup, as he has also failed to capture the title, despite guiding STATHS to two finals and reaching the semi-finals every year since 2017.
“The Champions Cup for us is a celebration of the good work that we are doing in the Manning Cup and it is time for us to have fun when we think about the Champions Cup. Go out there and exhibit some good football,” Williams said. STATHS defeated Manchester High 1-0 in their quarter-final match.
Earlier this month JC defeated STATHS in their final Manning Cup quarterfinals group match and will go into today’s match with the psychological edge.
Meanwhile reigning champions Clarendon College, the lone rural team in the field, will face Kington College in the second semi-final of the double header at 6:15 p.m after contrasting results in their respective daCosta Cup and Manning Cup semi-finals. Clarendon College defeated Manning’s on penalties to progress to the final while KC’s Manning Cup reign came to an end by STATHS.
Clarendon College are hoping to become the first team to retain the title while KC are seeking to win their second Champions Cup title in their final opportunity for silverware this season.