Ricardo Makyn/Staff Photographer
Bridgeport players and fans celebrate their 3-1 Manning Cup final victory over Excelsior at the National Stadium last year.
Kwesi Mugisa, Staff Reporter
THE BATTLE to possess schoolboy football's most coveted urban title is now a little over a week old and there could be quite a few surprises in what promises to be an exciting season.
Former champions Norman Manley came out firing on all cylinders in Group D when they clipped reigning champions Bridgeport 1-0 in the opening game on Saturday at Jarrett Park.
However, the defending champions, who still have a fairly solid unit despite the loss of top players Theophelous Samuels and Kenardo Forbes, will not be pressing the panic button just yet.
Favourites
Bridgeport and Norman Manley are favourites to advance from that zone, but don't be too quick to count out the Light Blues of St. George's. The North Street team had a solid defensive squad but somewhat immature team last year and could cause some problems if they have managed to improve the technical aspects of their game.
Former champions Dunoon and Ardenne do not seem to have the depth or experience this year, while little is expected of Penwood and the returning Haile Selassie.
Last year's runners-up, Excelsior, are expected to be the class-act of Group F. With a talented squad still at their disposal, they should have little problems booking their spot in the second round.
Strong team
St. Andrew Technical (STATHS) are also expected to be a strong team, with the majority of their squad back from last season.
Jonathan Grant, who also have a strong core returning to the competition, could also be in the running. Trench Town and Vauxhall will be hard-pressed to make any impact in the group.
In Group E, a strong Charlie Smith are favoured to advance to the second round. Camperdown, a solid squad last season, have only retained three players and should be forced to battle for the second with Ascot, Greater Portmore, Pembroke Hall and Denham Town.
Group C will be a tight one. Former champions Calabar are expected to be the class team of that group, but Wolmer's, despite losing quite a few of their players, could be formidable opponents based on their pre-season form. Also, it would be dangerous to underestimate Campion. With a determined, capable squad last season, they narrowly missed out on a spot in the second round. A couple of those players are still on the team and they could squeeze through.
In Zone B, defending Walker Cup champions Eltham are already off to a hot start and are expected to advance. Kingston College could break their two-year spell of first-round exits as José Marti and Kingston High could be weaker opponents than they have faced in previous years.
In Zone A, look out for Waterford. The St. Catherine squad has most of its starting team intact and, having looked a dangerous team last year, should benefit from one more year's experience.
After a sub-standard season last year, reports indicate former champions Tivoli Gardens could be back on form. St Jago could also have an outside shot of progressing.
Traditional teams long for glory days
George's football star Ali Rose sprints away from two Tivoli defenders en-route to goal in the 1992 Manning Cup final. Rose netted the first goal in a 2-1 come from behind victory for the North Street team.
AFTER THEIR unprecedented dominance in the early years of schoolboy football, St. George's, Kingston College, Jamaica College and Wolmer's pray for a return to the Promised Land after several years of wandering in the wilderness.
Between them, they share an impressive 60 titles, more than twice as many as all the other teams put together; but now, in the midst of a severe drought, it's been a dozen years since one of the traditional sides has lifted a title.
Wolmer's were the most recent winners. The Heroes Circle team lifted the crown in 1994 with a 1-0 win over Tivoli, led by Carlington 'Puppy Dog' Clarke with a late Craig McIntosh goal to seal the issue.
That Wolmer's side also featured a young Ricardo Gardner, who would later go on to become one of the nation's most accomplished footballers.
St. George's won the title in 1992 under much, heralded schoolboy football legend Ali Rose and future Reggae Boy midfield maestro Andy Williams. The Light Blues took the title back to North Street after coming from behind to clip Tivoli 2-1, again, in the final.
Further down North Street, neighbours Kingston College have not put their hands on the coveted title since 1986. That year, Lucan 'Supersub' Brown, as he had many times that season, proved to be the hero when he sank Charlie Smith 1-0 with a second-half goal.
With 19 titles, The Purples are the most successful schoolboy team in the island's history. The Dark Blues of Jamaica College haven't been able to win a title since 1974, 33 years ago. On that occasion, a Dennis Zaidie-coached JC got the better of rivals Kingston College 1-0 in a replayed final.
At least half of the teams have now gone in search of their proverbial Moseses, the coaches at the helm when they last won the crown. For George's, Neville 'Bertis' Bell, the man in charge of the '92 champions, is once again at the helm. While for Wolmer's, it is triumphant '94 coach Michael Francis who is at the forefront again. Bell believes his team has the most talent he has seen since winning the title, while Francis boasts a young but very talented squad.
What they will be able to accomplish this season remains to be seen.
While Jamaica College and Kingston College will be unable to bring back their renowned coaching greats, Zaidie for the former and George Thompson for the latter, they too will have their eyes set on a return to the glory days rather sooner than later.
- K.M.
