Defending champs Glenmuir to face stern KC test

DEFENDING ISSA Champions Cup winners Glenmuir High School will face a mammoth clash in the opening game of the all-island knockout competition after being slated to face Kingston College (KC) last night in the tournament’s draw at the Digicel headquarters in downtown Kingston yesterday.

Glenmuir, who have been enjoying a brilliant run in the daCosta Cup competition this season, will mount their title defence against one of the Manning Cup’s heavy title contenders.

Jhanoy Chambers, assistant coach of Glenmuir, said he expects the clash to be one of the toughest challenges his team has faced this season.

“We will take a lot of pride going into this match because this is something we have been working for, and when you work hard for something and achieve it, then it’s a really good feeling,” he said.

“Going into this game against Kingston College, we know it’s going to be a tough one. We’re close with the members of the Kingston College coaching staff, so we expect a really good game and hopefully at the end of the day, we will come out with the victory.”

Glenmuir will be hoping they can defend their crown after claiming their first title last season with a 3-2 win over fierce rivals Clarendon College in the final.

KC, the two-time Champions Cup winners, have signalled their intent to challenge for all titles up for grabs this season with head coach Vassell Reynolds saying he hopes to kick off the school’s centenary celebrations early with schoolboy football glory.

“It would be a good accolade to start the celebrations for the school as it is their 100-year anniversary next year,” Reynolds told The Gleaner.

In other Champions Cup ties, Jamaica College (JC) will take on McGrath High in their opening game of the knockout competition.

The fixture will be a rematch of their 2019 meeting where JC had thumped McGrath 7-0 at the National Stadium.

Champions Cup debutant, St Catherine, will cut their teeth against Ocho Rios, who are making their long-awaited return to the competition.

The St Ann-based school first competed in the competition, then branded the FLOW Super Cup, during the 2016 season but were eliminated in the first round after a 5-0 drubbing from Excelsior.

They will be hoping to better that performance and will be buoyed by their fairytale run in the daCosta Cup this season. Ocho Rios booked their spot in the rural schoolboy football competition’s semifinal for the first time in the school’s history.

The final fixture of the Champions Cup will see Hydel take on Garvey Maceo, just as they did last season.

Hydel trounced Garvey Maceo 4-2 in that meeting but Garvey Maceo, though the latter will be looking to banish ghosts of the past.

The Champions Cup will kick off this Friday and Saturday with doubleheaders at the Catherine Hall Stadium.

Champions Cup draw

Hydel vs Garvey Maceo

Ocho Rios vs St Catherine

Jamaica College vs McGrath

Glenmuir vs Kingston College