MONTEGO BAY, St James — Three former champions will lead the charge for spots in the semi-finals of the ISSA Ben Francis Knockout which gets under way today with four games in the quarter-finals all set to kick off at 2:30 pm.

Under the new format that was introduced this year, the third- and fourth-placed teams in the quarter-finals of the ISSA/Wata daCosta Cup competition, who failed to qualify for the semi-finals and the first round of the ISSA Champions Cup, will qualify for the Ben Francis KO.

Six-time champions Glenmuir High, 2008 champions St James High and 2016 winners Lennon High are among the teams that will be seeking to win the competition this year.

Today’s winners will qualify for the semi-finals set for next Thursday, November 15, the same day as the daCosta Cup semi-finals.

Glenmuir High face Port Antonio High at Carder Park, St James High meet Petersfield High in a western derby at Jarrett Park, Lennon High and Old Harbour will face off at Juici Field, while Charlemont High and Maggotty High will meet at Dinthill Technical in Linstead.

Given a second chance to win a title after failing in the daCosta Cup and having benefited from a week’s rest, it is expected that today’s games will be close and exciting between teams that should be at the same level based on their performances in the daCosta Cup quarter-finals.

Two of the teams, Glenmuir High and Petersfield High, lost all three games in the quarter-finals, while St James High and Old Harbour both got one point each.

The Charlemont High vs Maggotty High game could be the most competitive between teams that won at least one game in the previous round and will both be seeking to get to their first ‘major’ semi-final and have an eye on the final set for November 23.

Port Antonio High is the only team in the Ben Francis KO that won the first-round zone and also won a game in the quarter-final, and could be the “dark horse” to go all the way and win their first title.

Glenmuir High’s form at the quarter-final round in the last three seasons has been abysmal, losing all six games and managing a single goal in their three games this year.

Lennon High should also get to the final and face an Old Harbour team that conceded 10 goals in the quarter-finals and could merely be honouring the fixtures today.

Lennon High lost to Dinthill Technical and St Elizabeth Technical High School in the quarter-final, but could be tough to beat at this level.

St James High will have the edge over Petersfield High, but only because they are playing at Jarrett Park as neither team has given their fans enough to cheer for since the end of the first round.

St James High were blanked 4-0 by Manchester High at Jarrett Park and then led Clarendon College 1-0 until mid way the second half before collapsing to a 1-3 loss.

Today’s games

Port Antonio High vs Glenmuir High @ Carder Park

St James High vs Petersfield High @ Jarrett Park

Lennon High vs Old Harbour High @ Juici Field

Charlemont High vs Maggotty High @ Dinthill Tech

All games start at 2:30 pm