The nations’ top schoolboy footballers are set to benefit from more support both from Inter-Secondary Schools Sports Association (ISSA) and the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) as their performances during the recently concluded schoolboy football season has forced the powers that be to stand up and take notice.
Speaking at the awards ceremony for the ISSA Schoolboy Football season 2015, Mr. Keith Wellington, Principal of DaCosta Cup and Ben Francis Cup champions, St. Elizabeth Technical High School (STETHS) said that the All-Manning v All-DaCosta Cup game would be returned to the football fixture. Wellington also advised of a time change for the game from January to March to facilitate overseas scouts from colleges in the United States.
“Coaches from college in the USA find it easier to come to Jamaica in March because schools are on spring break at that time. So the game will be a chance for the players to be seen by these coaches who are scouting for Jamaican talent.”
This is keeping with the mandate that ISSA has set for the organization suggested Wellington, who said that they are “committed to the development of the players as persons and not just footballers.”
Also speaking at the awards ceremony was Captain Horace Burrell, President of the JFF who said that focus had to be placed on the younger players. “The appointment of Ricardo ‘Bibi’ Gardner and Altimont ‘Freddi’ Butler is not by accident. These are players who played at this level and went on to represent the Reggae Boyz at the highest level. We believe that they can provide the right motivation for the current crop of junior players.
“We are concentrating a lot more on our youth programs and building on what has happened already,” Burrell said.
Meanwhile Manning Cup and Olivier Shield champions Jamaica College and rural area double winners St. Elizabeth Technical both had five players name to the All-Manning and All-DaCosta Cup teams respectively.
St. Georges College stand-out striker, Alex Marshall, swept the individual awards in the urban area, claiming the leading goal scorer (Golden Boot) with sixteen goals from the second round onwards and Most Valuable Player (MVP) awards.
STETHS striker Michael Kerr who was injured in the DaCosta Cup final won the Golden Boot Award with 20 goals from the second round onwards and also claimed the MVP title.
Jamaica College claimed the Best Defensive record on their way to winning the Manning Cup for the third consecutive time.
