‘Four-ward’ march
THE reigning champions St George’s College are among a quartet bidding for places in the final of the ISSA/LIME Manning Cup football competition.
In the feature semi-final game at 4:00 pm today at the National Stadium, St George’s face a familiar foe in Walker Cup Knockout title-holders Wolmer’s Boys in what is expected to be one of the more attractive clashes this season.
In the opener at the venue, which is scheduled to start at 2:00 pm, Jamaica College and Excelsior High square off in another enticing encounter.
The Neville Bell-conditioned St George’s College outfit, who were sent crashing from the Cup KO in a penalty shoot-out loss to Excelsior recently, have won four Manning Cup and as many all-island Olivier Shield titles in the last five years. Their schoolboy football dominance in recent years was capped off in 2011 when they lifted the coveted treble.
Wolmer’s Boys, though the Walker Cup winners last year, have not won the Manning Cup since 1994.
Coached by Ludlow Bernard, they are blessed with good quality players and are seen by many as title favourites. Wolmer’s have been the only unbeaten team in the Corporate Area this season, and are on course for the double after coming from behind to beat Charlie Smith High 3-2 in the semi-final of the KO competition.
Jamaica College, another team with ample talent within their squad, appeared the strongest heading into the semi-final, but they will be cautious of Excelsior — the team that beat them 0-2 at the early stage of the Walker Cup.
However, that has been the only blip on their season so far and if anything, the Miguel Coley-coached team has looked more focused and should be champing at the bit ahead of today’s rematch. The players and fans are also eager for success after last enjoying a Manning Cup triumph in 2010.
Excelsior High, guided by wily coach Leebert Halliman, are the least fancied of the last four, but favourable results against the formidable pair of JC and St George’s in the Walker Cup is evidence enough that they are valid contenders for a first Manning Cup trophy since 2004.
Excelsior lack the star power of the other semi-finalists, but in the category of team effort they are virtually peerless. In defence they have been tough to break down and in attack they have found important goals. In addition, they have shown a calm approach in the penalty shootout scenario.