Two semi-final spots will be up for grabs when the final set of Group A quarter-final round matches in the Inter-secondary Schools Sports Association/Digicel Manning Cup competition is contested this afternoon.

Jamaica College (JC), fresh off their 3-0 victory over staunch rivals Kingston College (KC) on Tuesday, are to host Tivoli Gardens High at the Richard Ashenheim Stadium. In the other encounter, defending champions Mona High are set to take on KC at the Stadium East field. Both matches are scheduled to kick off at 3:00 pm.

The Davion Ferguson-coached JC lead the group with four points, one ahead of KC and Tivoli Gardens, who are tied on three points each. Mona sit at the base of Group A with one point.

Tivoli Gardens will enter the contest brimming with confidence after the Christopher Nicholas-coached team outclassed Mona 3-1 last time out.

Ferguson says his players are fully aware of the challenge ahead and are prepared to give it their all to secure a positive result.

“Our objective is to get to the semi-finals and there are some permutations that will help us reach that goal. We are just going out there trying to win this game,” he said. “It won’t be easy because we saw the warning signs when they (Tivoli Gardens) played against Mona. We know they have quality so it will be a difficult game but it is one that we will be ready for.”

Ferguson highlighted that JC remain the only unbeaten team in Under-19 schoolboy football this season and he is confident his players will deliver a strong performance.

“I think if you check this season, no one really talks about JC, but that is fine. We are still the only unbeaten team in the schoolboy competition this season, and so we know exactly where we stand and what we can do,” he noted. “For us, it’s not about what others think. It’s about what we have internally, and we just take it game by game. That’s what we’re going to do on Friday,” Ferguson added.

JC will be depending heavily on their captain Dyllan John, along with Nashordo Gibbs, Jamoy Dennis, and Jabari Howell, to lead them to victory.

On the other hand, Nicholas is very optimistic about Tivoli’s chances of securing the result required to advance. “We are feeling very confident going into this game because, from the start of the season, we knew what we were capable of,” he said.

“The game against KC that we lost was a bit unfortunate, and everybody looked down on us afterward. But we bounced back well against Mona, and everyone saw our qualities in that game. So, going into this match, our boys are ready.

“However, we know it’s going to be a tough game because JC is a very good team. But we are prepared to go out there and fight until the end,” Nicholas added.

Tivoli Gardens are expected to place their hopes in the hands of Ryan Francis, Dominique Goldbourne, Dave Campbell, and Horace Morgan to lead them to victory.

The final round of quarter-final matches in Group B are scheduled for Saturday.

—Robert Bailey

FRIDAY’S GAMES

Jamaica College vs Tivoli Gardens @ Ashenheim Stadium

Mona vs Kingston College @ Stadium East

NICHOLAS… we know it’s going to be a tough game because JC is a very good team Photo: Joseph Wellington

Kingston College football coach Vassell Reynolds

Mona High football coach Craig Butler Photo: Garfield Robinson

FERGUSON… we are still the only unbeaten team in the schoolboy competition this season