Adrian Frater, News Editor

St James High School's Allan Ottey. - File

WESTERN BUREAU:

WITH THE Ben Francis KO now history, action will resume in the ISSA/Pepsi/Digicel daCosta Cup this afternoon with the 24 inter-zone qualifiers squaring off in 12 games across rural Jamaica.

The qualifiers, who earned their inter-zone slots by virtue of finishing in the top two in their respective zones in the competition's preliminary phase, are divided into six groups of four teams each. The group winners and the two best second-place teams will advance to the competition's quarter-final round.

Rural double

While all the games carry equal importance, the Group One clash at the Frome Sports Ground between newly crowned Ben Francis KO champions St James High and Frome Technical should generate special interest as St James High are now firm favourites for the coveted rural double - the Ben Francis KO and daCosta Cup.

"Our aim is to add the daCosta Cup to the Ben Francis Trophy and we strongly believe we can do it," said Pastor Hugh Solomon, the coach of the unbeaten St James High team.

"The players are highly motivated and confidence is very high in our camp," he said.

In Saturday's Ben Francis KO final, St James High, unbeaten in 16 games, blunted the challenge of Dinthill 4-0 to win their first major title. However, despite the hype around the St James team, their opponents, 2003 champions Frome Technical, cannot be slighted, although their nine wins, one draw and three defeats in the preliminary round is not entirely convincing.

Frome should be particularly wary of the St James crack front line, which features Allan Ottey, who scored twice against Dinthill, and has 12 goals this season, and Nicholi Barrett, who also score against Dinthill and has tallied 13 goals in all competitions so far.

TODAY'S GAMES

Godfrey Stewart vs Cedric Titus

Frome Sports Club - 1:00 p.m.

Frome vs St.James

Frome Sports Club - 3:00 p.m.

Marcus Garvey vs Grange Hill

Drax Hall - 3:00 p.m.,

Christiana vs Manchester

Kirkvine Sports Club - 1:00 p.m.

Spalding vs Bellefield

Kirkvine Sports Club - 3:00 p.m.

Clarendon College vs Lacovia

Jamalco Sports Club - 1:00 p.m.

Lennon vs STETHS

Jamalco Sports Club - 3:00 p.m.

Annotto Bay vs Dinthill

Clembhard's Park - 1:00 p.m.

St Mary Tech. vs Bog Walk

Clembhard's Park - 3:00 p.m.

St Thomas Technical vs Old Harbour

York Oval - 1:00 p.m.

Paul Bogle vs Glenmuir

York Oval - 3:00 p.m.

Cornwall vs. Rusea's

Jarrett Park - 3:00 p.m.