The 2012 Manning Cup season kicks off this afternoon in Montego Bay with defending champions St George’s College looking to make a successful start when they face Zone C rivals Hydel High.
The ‘Light Blues’ showed in the recent Roper Cup that they will be hard to beat this season following a 1-0 win over arch-rivals Kingston College.
Hydel, one of the usual minnows of the competition, should not be strong enough to pose any real threat to the many-time champions.
ST GEORGE’S COLLEGE
Position last season: Champions.
Key players: Romario Jones, Nico Campbell, Cordell Benbow, Andre Lewis, Kendon Anderson, Oshane Boote.
Group C: Along with Hydel, Clan Carthy, Denham Town, Dunoon Technical, Cumberland.
Coach: Neville Bell
Coach’s view (assistant – Marcel Gayle): “We will be aiming to defend our title. We have four national Under-20 players and if we can get it right we will we will be hard to beat.”
WOLMER’S BOYS
Position last season: Semi-finals.
Key players: Jason Wight, Amal Knight, Jaheel Hyde, Jorghino James, Tazio Gilpin, Jason Greenland.
Group F: Along with Donald Quarrie, Jose Marti, Oberlin, Kingston Technical, St Andrew College.
Coach: Ludlow Bernard.
Coach’s view: “Just like anybody else we want to win, and in the process deliver for the school which has gone 18 years without a title. We just need to remain focused and concentrate more than we have done in previous years.”
JAMAICA COLLEGE
Position last season: Semi-finals.
Key players: Junior Flemming, Tevin Simpson, Andrew Riley, Kevin Blackwood, Andre Bingham.
Group B: Along with Camperdown, Mona, St Jago, Waterford.
Coach: Alfred Henry.
Coach’s view (assistant – Delroy Brown): “We have a decent team and one that is a better than last year. Additionally, we have not finished outside of the top four for the past five seasons, and the aim is to continue that trend.
EXCELSIOR HIGH
Position last season: Quarter-finalist
Key players: Ryan Jackson, Ojai Bedward, Bryan Richards, Cornel McKen, Romario Atkinson.
Group A: Along with Campion, Greater Portmore, Norman Manley, Penwood
Coach: Leebert Halliman.
Coach’s view: “I took a one year sabbatical leave last year, and I am now ready to resume my duties. We are in a rebuilding stage, and things will take time, but we are going to try and do our best.”
CALABAR HIGH
Position last season: Quarter-finalists
Key players: Kyle Scott, Javon East, Richard Chambers.
Group D: Along with Bridgeport, Haile Selassie, Innswood, St Mary’s College, Tivoli.
Coach: Mervin Tate.
Coach’s view (vice-principal – Alrick Moodie): “We have had a few set back with a few senior players not returning. But we have the quality and the dept to come out the zone, and once we do that it is a matter of taking it match by match.”
Source: http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20120908/sports/sports51.html
