FORMER CHAMPIONS Jamaica College (JC) and Vauxhall will renew their rivalry this afternoon in the ISSA/WATA Manning Cup’s Zone C.
The game will be played at the JC Ashenheim Stadium, starting at 3 p.m. In the group’s other game, Camperdown will host St Andrew Technical High School (STATHS) at the Alpha Boys’ Home.
The play-offs have begun with the top four teams in the zone, chasing three round-of-16 spots. There is a possibility of the fourth-placed team also making the round-of-16 with a spot open for the best-placed one across all zones.
STATHS lead the group with 19 points, two ahead of JC, and Vauxhall on 16. They are followed by Camperdown on nine points. Vauxhall, who are coached by Kyle Butler, son of Mona’s coach Craig Butler, have been having an outstanding season so far and have been tipped by many pundits to reach the quarter-finals of this year’s competition.
In their last encounter against JC last Friday, Vauxhall came from behind to hold the former champions 1-1 at Vauxhall High School.
The result sparked wild celebrations among their supporters, and many now believe that this Vauxhall team will be a danger to the big teams in the competition.
However, Ian Forbes, manager of JC, said they have learnt their lessons from last Friday’s game and are ready to go all in today.
“We are taking this game very seriously, and so we are preparing like how we prepared for all our other games,” said Forbes.
“As you know, we played them last week and we would have seen what they have to offer, and so it is just a matter of strategising as we go into this encounter on Tuesday,” he said.
“Playing at home will give the team some confidence, but we are preparing to play like we are playing away from home. But home advantage is always good, so we are hoping that can help us also on Tuesday,” Forbes added.
Meanwhile, efforts to get a comment from Vauxhall’s coach were unsuccessful as several calls to his mobile phone went unanswered.
Over in Zone B, defending champions Kingston College (KC), who are unbeaten so far this season, will host Haile Selassie at the Stadium East field. KC, who are highly favoured to retain their title this season, have recorded seven straight wins to lead the standings with 21 points. Haile Selassie sit fourth with 13 points. Tivoli Gardens, who are second in the zone with 16 points, will play away to third-place Charlie Smith (15) at Charlie Smith High School.
TODAY’S GAMES
Kingston College vs Haile Selassie
Tivoli Gardens vs Charlie Smith
Jamaica College vs Vauxhall
Camperdown vs STATHS
Norman Manley vs St Catherine
Campion College vs Eltham
Ascot vs Mona
Wolmer’s vs Calabar
