Thirty-one games are down to be played on Saturday’s opening day of the ISSA/Wata daCosta Cup competition including four former champions in action as they race for honours gets underway.
Rusea’s High will start the defence of their title when they face Green Island High in the ceremonial opening game at the Montego Bay Sports Complex starting at 6:00pm.
Glenmuir High are away to Bellefield and Garvey Maceo hosts Denbigh in Zone M games while Vere Technical and Central High will meet in Zone N. Belmont Academy will also make their debut when they take on Mannings School in Sav la Mar.
Eighty-one teams will take part in the competition that will see significant changes in the format for the second straight year as this year, for the first time there cannot be double winners in either of the two competitions, the daCosta Cup or the Manning Cup.
{loadmodule mod_custom,Google inside article ad code}The new rules stipulates that the last two teams in either group of the quarterfinals of the daCosta Cup and the losing eight teams in the second round of the Manning Cup, who cannot win the main titles, will contest the Ben Francis and Walker Cup semi-finals.
So far the changes have come in for criticism with many saying the organisers are rewarding failure.
Meanwhile the daCosta Cup competition will continue with the top two from each of the 15 zones as well as the two best third place teams, advancing to the second round where team will be matched up based on rankings in a home and away series.
The 16 winners will then advance to the quarter-finals where they will play in four groups of four teams each with the winners of each group advancing to the semi-finals.
