SINCE the early 1980s, Rusea's Comprehensive have established themselves as part of the elite in schoolboy football and despite the protestations of coach Emerson Henry, the Lucea-based school will continue to attract lots of attention coming out of Zone B.
Henry contends his aim for the team is to advance past the zone stages then "take it from there".
Rusea's preparation started just about a month ago and Henry said this would set them back, especially at the start of the season. The loss of a number of top players will not help their cause either. Gone are forwards Oniel McIntosh, captain and centre half Damien 'Bad News' Nelson, midfielder Kerron Frater and sweeper Kevin Palmer.
On the positive side, outstanding goalkeeper Owen Henry will return along with lanky striker Evol Headley and David Delisser while Trace Jolly, a member of the school's Under-16 team last year, will make the move up.
Rusea's just missed out on winning some silverware last season, losing to Glenmuir in the final of the Ben Francis KO and the semi-finals of the daCosta Cup.
News on the grape vine is that Frome Technical are ready to make yet another of their surges after tasting inter-zone play last year and could be Rusea's big threat in Zo ne B which will also include newcomers Merlene Ottey High, Anchovy and Grange Hill.
William Knibb in rebuilding process
THE Inter-Secondary Schools Sports Association (ISSA) could never have chosen a worse time to return William Knibb to Zone A.
After a good run over the past two years out of Zone D where they qualified for the inter-zone round under coach Paul 'Tegat' Davis, The Martha Brae school is "in a rebuilding process", according to Sports Master Darlan Clarke.
They will not get the red carpet treatment when they open their account in Zone A against Trelawny rivals Muschett on Wednesday nor when they face Cornwall College, Herbert Morrison or St. James High.
Davis' rebuilding programme will centre around the veteran Ebola Bryce, marker Adrian Lake and left fullback Kenish Hyatt on a young team that averages 16 years of age.
Clarke said playing in Zone A was not necessarily a death sentence for his young team as the competition could bring out the best in them and added they could ruffle a few feathers.
Advancing from the zone could be a tough task, he admitted but says his players have shown character and he has no doubt they will be doing their best.
Munro's presence will be felt Harrison
THE mood in the Munro College camp is surprisingly upbeat considering they even failed to make it out of their zone last year after making it to the semi-finals the previous season.
The bulk of this year's team comprises members of last year's Galloway Cup Under-16 champions and despite their youth, coach Neil Harrison thinks they have matured enough in the year and will make their presence felt.
He was his usual calm but confident self when he said his first task would be to break his four-year winless streak against defending champions STETHS.
He will have his first chance in tomorrow's opening game at Jarrett Park starting at 1:30 p.m.
"I see no reason why we should not beat STETHS this year. It is always a hard task and given the tradition between both schools, it will be difficult but we think we can do it," Harrison said.
As for their chances of winning their eighth title and first since 1964, he said: "Our chances are as good as any other team" and added with the young age of his team, they will be a factor in coming seasons.
Munro lost four players from last year's team so forward Kevin Holmes, who will be playing his fourth season, Kenroy Blake, goalkeeper Marlon Edwards and Copeland Lewis who captained the Galloway Cup team last year will be the ones to carry the load.
Saturday's 1-1 draw against Cornwall in the Jackson Shield at Jarrett Park was a major boost to the team's confidence and extended their unbeaten streak to seven matches after losing their first two practice games.
Edwin Allen optimistic
WITH eight starters returning from last year's team which just failed to make it to the quarter-finals, the Edwin Allen coaching staff has reason to be in a buoyant mood.
Enthusiasm alone will not be enough as Zone H will be one of the most competitive as it includes Clarendon College and Vere Technical as well as darkhorses May Pen Comprehensive.
Assistant coach Chris Wellington said feeling around the camp was that this would be their year and described their chances of going all the way as "very good".
He said while they had ambitions of taking the trophy back to Clarendon, they would be "taking things one step at a time" and beating perennial favourites Clarendon College would be one of their primary objectives.
This year unlike the previous years, the coaching staff has done some research into their opponents and will be preparing for each game with specific plans.
Returnees Rickart 'Tappa' Graham, who scored 11 goals last year, along with Leon Maduru, who scored five, Simeon Dilworth and goalkeeper Warren Clarke will lead the charge.
