It’s that time again as rural schools face off for the coveted DaCosta title. this year’s competition has returned to its official format after covid altered proceedings in the last two seasons.
This season will see the participation of 82 high schools across 10 parishes hunting title glory. There are 15 zones in this years competition from A to O.
There are several additions from last year’s competition which saw a decline in entries due to covid restrictions. Last year’s competition had only 8 zones with 52 teams participating.
When the dust settled Garvey Maceo emerged as champions making this their 2nd title after winning the title in 2007. The Cubanz had an excellent season on their way to the title, taking the title back to Clarendon and dethroning the 2019 champions Clarendon college.
Garvey Maceo enters this year’s competition as firm favorites to defend their crown. The Merron Gordon lead unit will be buoyed by their triumph in the recently concluded ISSA rural area under 16 competition. They will face competition from fellow parish rivals and many-time champions Clarendon College, who will be eager to regain their DaCosta Cup title after losing out to rivals Garvey Maceo.
Clarendon College will be looking to build on its winning platform after securing the 2021 Champions cup for the first time in the school’s history, making them only the second DaCosta Cup team to have won this coveted title.
Cornwall College will be on the hunt for title #13 and will also be among the favorites for this year’s competition after being eliminated in the quarter-final round last season.
The long shot favorites for the competition are Dinthill Technical and Mannings School.
Dinthill Technical will enter this year’s competition on the back of a very good 2021 season after being narrowly beaten 1-0 in the Champions Cup final by Clarendon College. They will be looking to go one step further this season and lift the crown.
Mannings School enters this year’s competition as one of the favorites and will be looking to build on its 2021 season, after reaching the finals for the first time in its history.
Many times champions and western powerhouse Ruseas High will be looking to take the honors in Zone B. They will however have to hold off the likes of Frome Technical and Green Island High who are looking to make a statement this season.
The ever-exciting Zone E will be packed with action as STETHS look to take the top spot after narrowly missing out on the Ben Francis title last season, losing to Edwin Allen 3-2. They however will face strong competition from arch-rivals Munro College, Maggoty and BB Coke who are all eyeing the top spot.
Edwin Allen will enter this year’s competition as one of the dark horses after securing their first-ever piece of silverware. They thrillingly won the Ben Francis Cup 3-2 against strong favorites STETHS. After tasting victory in 2021, Edwin Allen will be hungry for further success and surely will be aiming higher at the DaCosta Cup title.
With the country seemingly back to normal after the pandemic, this year’s competition looks to be an exciting one. Fans and players are equally excited about the return of Schoolboy football.
Will Garvey Maceo make it two in a row and defend their crown? or will the two CCs spoil the party and continue their dominance in rural schoolboy football?
Stay tuned to our social media platforms for live and delayed updates leading up to Schoolboy football 2022 season.
