Bitter rivals Hydel and Vaz clash in Alberga Cup finals today

They say cream always rises to the top and Hydel Prep and Vaz Prep certainly represent two of the best teams in the JISA Alberga Cup competition this season. Both teams qualified from the same group in the quarter final stages to make it to the final today at the UWI Bowl starting at 3:00pm.

They say cream always rises to the top and Hydel Prep and Vaz Prep certainly represent two of the best teams in the JISA Alberga Cup competition this season. Both teams qualified from the same group in the quarter final stages to make it to the final today at the UWI Bowl starting at 3:00pm.

 When the two teams met each other in the quarter finals, they played out an exciting 1-1 draw with Vaz getting the opener after only three minutes from talisman Jhavier Lynch before Hydel found the second half equalizer. Today’s encounter must produce a winner and the team that shows up better prepared mentally, will prevail.

The rivalry between the two schools extend beyond the football field and is extremely intense in track and field.

Both teams have talented players throughout the squad but Hydel takes the edge in the goalkeeping department.

Rushane Thompson is the captain and sweeper for Hydel and has been solid as a rock. His free kicks are also a major weapon for Hydel. His opposite number, Scott McLeod,  captain’s Vaz and he has been a tower of strength, displaying good skills both in the air and on the ground.

Hydel’s midfield is run by Dushane Bernard, their best player and certainly a candidate for Most Valuable Player of the season, along with the talented and dependable Andru-Lee Cassanova. The performance of both these players will go a long way in determining the outcome of the final. Bernard dribbles well and knows how to beat a player, while he scores from set plays and open play whenever given the opportunity to do so. Cassanova is tricky and smart and links well with the forwards to provide assists and is also a proven goal scorer.

For Vaz Prep, the pair of Aquan Pearson and Zidane Barnes will have to be at their best to counter the Hydel challenge. Pearson was imperious in the semifinals against Mona and will need to replicate that performance or be better for Vaz to win. Barnes who knows how to score goals and delivers good free kicks will have to be on point, as he was the last time these two teams faced each other. 

Damoy Whitehorn is expected to lead the line for Hydel and he too is a quality player. Fearless and skillful dribbler, this young man is certainly one for the future. He has a keen eye for goal and will be hard to contain.

Vaz Prep has displayed fluidity in attack and depending on the formation they choose could have up to three players in attack. Iyare Harris, brother of the coach Simba Harris, who has 16 goals to his credit, has regained his confidence and his touch in recent matches, providing the valuable assist for strike partner Jhavier Lynch in the 1-0 semifinal win last weekend. Lynch is the leading goal scorer for Vaz with 20 so far this season and when he is on his game is very difficult to contain. He loves scoring goals and is already equipped to play to role of point man in attack.

Taje Chamberlain has also been among the goals for Vaz and must be considered a real threat by Hydel. 

Both teams will be aware of the threats coming off the bench and Vaz will be acutely aware of Dante Thorpe who came off the bench to grab the equalizer in the quarter final clash. Matthew Rose and Chaz Prawl have been very effective when called upon for Vaz.

Today’s encounter should be a treat for fans, which should number in the hundreds for both schools that are well supported on each match day.

They say cream always rises to the top and Hydel Prep and Vaz Prep certainly represent two of the best teams in the JISA Alberga Cup competition this season. Both teams qualified from the same group in the quarter final stages to make it to the final today at the UWI Bowl starting at 3:30pm.

When the two teams met each other in the quarter finals, they played out an exciting 1-1 draw with Vaz getting the opener after only three minutes from talisman Jhavier Lynch before Hydel found the second half equalizer. Today’s encounter must produce a winner and the team that shows up better prepared mentally, will prevail.

The rivalry between the two schools extend beyond the football field and is extremely intense in track and field.

Both teams have talented players throughout the squad but Hydel takes the edge in the goalkeeping department.

Rushane Thompson is the captain and sweeper for Hydel and has been solid as a rock. His free kicks are also a major weapon for Hydel. His opposite number, Scott McLeod,  captain’s Vaz and he has been a tower of strength, displaying good skills both in the air and on the ground.

Hydel’s midfield is run by Dushane Bernard, their best player and certainly a candidate for Most Valuable Player of the season, along with the talented and dependable Andru-Lee Cassanova. The performance of both these players will go a long way in determining the outcome of the final. Bernard dribbles well and knows how to beat a player, while he scores from set plays and open play whenever given the opportunity to do so. Cassanova is tricky and smart and links well with the forwards to provide assists and is also a proven goal scorer.

For Vaz Prep, the pair of Aquan Pearson and Zidane Barnes will have to be at their best to counter the Hydel challenge. Pearson was imperious in the semifinals against Mona and will need to replicate that performance or be better for Vaz to win. Barnes who knows how to score goals and delivers good free kicks will have to be on point, as he was the last time these two teams faced each other. 

Damoy Whitehorn is expected to lead the line for Hydel and he too is a quality player. Fearless and skillful dribbler, this young man is certainly one for the future. He has a keen eye for goal and will be hard to contain.

Vaz Prep has displayed fluidity in attack and depending on the formation they choose could have up to three players in attack. Iyare Harris, brother of the coach Simba Harris, who has 16 goals to his credit, has regained his confidence and his touch in recent matches, providing the valuable assist for strike partner Jhavier Lynch in the 1-0 semifinal win last weekend. Lynch is the leading goal scorer for Vaz with 20 so far this season and when he is on his game is very difficult to contain. He loves scoring goals and is already equipped to play to role of point man in attack.

Taje Chamberlain has also been among the goals for Vaz and must be considered a real threat by Hydel. 

Both teams will be aware of the threats coming off the bench and Vaz will be acutely aware of Dante Thorpe who came off the bench to grab the equalizer in the quarter final clash. Matthew Rose and Chaz Prawl have been very effective when called upon for Vaz.

Today’s encounter should be a treat for fans, which should number in the hundreds for both schools that are well supported on each match day.

The final will be preceded by the third place playoff between last year’s champions Quest Prep and Mona Prep at 1:30pm.

Photo: Daniel Ivey of Vaz Prep shields the ball from Dushane Bernard of Hydel Prep in the quarter final clash that ended 1-1.