daCosta Cup kicks off with 28 games

TWENTY-EIGHT games across several zones will be played today when the Inter-Secondary Schools Sports Association (ISSA) daCosta Cup kicks off. In the opening match of a double-header at the Stadium East field, champions Garvey Maceo High will begin their campaign at 2:30 p.m. in a matchup against Foga Road High.

In the western end of the island, five former champions will be in action in the 3 p.m. kickoffs.

In Zone A, one game that should attract a lot of attention is the showdown between former champions Cornwall College and Green Pond High at the Cornwall College playing field.

Cornwall, the winningest team in the daCosta Cup, are hoping to capitalise on their experience and make it past the inter-zone round this season.

Green Pond’s head coach, Gregory Daley, told The Gleaner that he expects a win in the first game.

“Green Pond versus Cornwall will always be an exciting game. I think we are one of the few schools that have had consistent success against Cornwall, especially at home,” said Daley, who has been coaching Green Pond since 2013.

“Winning against them is something that will always be in the back of our minds,” added Daley.

According to Daley, Green Pond see Cornwall as the team to beat if they hope to advance from the zone.

“We have done that several times and shown that we have the capacity to go down there and beat them. Today will be no different.

Last season, Green Pond did not advance to the second round after finishing third in the zone.

Cornwall advanced as winners of their zone in the first round, and they ended as runners-up in their second-round group.

After getting into the round of 16, Cornwall’s daCosta Cup title run ended when they finished third in the zone, winning only one game against a winless Clarendon College.

Also in Zone A, former champions Herbert Morrison will host Irwin High, while St James High will face Maldon High at Jarrett Park.

In Hanover, Zone B’s Knockalva Technical will face former champions Rusea’s High at the Knockalva High playing field.

Zone favourites Rusea’s will look to start with a positive result against underdogs Knockalva.

Anchovy High will host a Frome Technical High squad which is rebuilding and expected to have a rough season.

Despite the possibility of losing several players, Frome’s goal remains to advance out of their zone.

Over in Westmoreland, Manning’s School will look to start strong in their first game against Little London High at the Manning’s playing field.

Today’s games:

Zone A

Herbert Morrison vs Irwin

St James vs Maldon

Cornwall vs Green Pond

Zone B

Anchovy vs Frome

Knockalva vs Rusea’s

Green Island vs Cambridge

Zone C

Manning’s vs Little London

Black River vs Lewisville

Zone D

Cedric Titus vs Spot Valley

Troy vs Muschett

Zone E

Newell vs Maggotty

Lacovia vs Sydney Pagon

BB Coke vs Munro

Zone F

Manchester vs Belair

deCarteret vs May Day

Zone G

Alphansus Davis vs Porus

Holmwood vs Christiana

Knox vs Mile Gully

Alston vs Bellefield

Zone I

Garvey Maceo vs Foga Road

Zone J

McGrath vs Charlemont

Old Harbour vs Tacius Golding

Zone K

York Castle vs Discovery Bay

Brown’s Town vs Marcus Garvey

Ocho Rios vs Ferncourt

Zone M

St Mary High vs St Mary Tech

Port Antonio vs Titchfield

Iona vs Horace Clarke