Two of the best teams in the 2013 Corporate area school boy football competitions, Jamaica College and Wolmer’s Boys School, will meet today in the finals of the ISSA/LIME Manning Cup competition at the National Stadium starting at 4:00pm.
Two of the best teams in the 2013 Corporate area school boy football competitions, Jamaica College and Wolmer’s Boys School, will meet today in the finals of the ISSA/LIME Manning Cup competition at the National Stadium starting at 4:00pm.
Many pundits have tried to pick a favourite for this game, but on the strengths and weaknesses of both teams it is really hard to do so.
Wolmer’s has not lost a game all season and for this reason may start the game as slight favourites; but Jamaica College has lost just once all season themselves, when they were surprised by Excelsior High in the semi-finals of the Walker Cup. Since the shock loss, Jamaica College has won all four games they have played in the Manning Cup, en route to the finals, scoring four goals on three occasions including the thrashing of Excelsior in the semifinals last weekend.
Junior Flemmings has been the star player for JC again this season, leading his team in scoring with 20 goals in all competitions, but the Hope Road boys have by no means been a one man team. Raffique Bryan and Romane Howell have done their part on the attacking front to provide balance for the Miguel Coley coached outfit, that has played attractive football all season.
A solid defence line has made the job of Courtney Dowdie much easier in goal, although, when called upon, Dowdie has proven himself to be quite capable.
The ‘True Blue’ last won the title in 2010, a year they also won the triple crown, admitted exceeding expectations, but nonetheless deserved winners at the time. They certainly cannot repeat as triple champions, but expectations are high at the school and anything less than lifting the trophy will be considered a failure.
While JC cannot win the triple crown, their opponents today, Wolmer’s can. Not only are they unbeaten this season, but they have already booked a spot in the Walker Cup final to be played on Tuesday, so in fact today’s game could be just the first jewel of a triple crown that they are aiming to win.
Wolmer’s won the Walker Cup last year but were very disappointed to lose out on the Manning Cup and the feeling coming from the camp is that they want that title more than anything else, this year.
Jahiel Hyde, who has 18 goals, two less than JC’s inspirational captain, Flemmings, has shown throughout the season that he is the man for the job. A much more mature player than last year, his positional play shows that he knows how to get the goals and his tally speaks for itself.
Hyde has gotten the goals because of the players just behind him, namely Demar Rose, who floats into pockets of space in midfield to receive the ball and distribute with clinical efficiency, supported by the powerful and hard working Jason Greenland who isn’t afraid to do the dirty work. Their miserly defence has been marshaled by the towering presence of captain Kemo Wallace and the backline will have to work overtime to contain Flemmings and company.
It has been 19 years since the Maroon and Gold clad team last hoisted the Manning Cup trophy and their supporters believe that they have a date with destiny.
The once whispered idea of a triple crown, is now being loudly argued in the streets of Kingston as they point not only to their ability to score goals but also their mean and stubborn defensive unit.
The fact that they conceded four goals against St. Georges College in the semi-final last weekend is seen as an aberration, never to be repeated again this term.
At the final analysis, both teams are pretty evenly matched, and it may come down to a moment of brilliance or a moment of madness to determine the destiny of the first piece of schoolboy football silverware on offer this season.
Adults will have to fork out $500 to see the game while students pay $300.
Photo: Jahiel Hyde and Junior Flemmings
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