COACH Phillip Williams is confident St Andrew Technical (STATHS) will top Group D, despite the presence of formidable Norman Manley in the ISSA/Pepsi/Digicel Manning Cup Schoolboy football competition.

STATHS have been drawn with Meadowbrook High, Mona High, Pembroke Hall High, Penwood High and Holy Trinity High, whom they face in their opening game on Tuesday, September 14 at home.

However, Norman Manley are expected to also stand out, though Williams did not seem too phased by that.

"Norman Manley usually does well, but over the last years our preparation has been better than theirs. 'Manley' is a threat, but we'll be coming out zone winners," he told the Observer.

Norman Manley's coach Carl Stephens does not quite agree, however.

"STATHS shouldn't be any threat to us. We shouldn't get any stiff challenge from any of the teams; we should advance easily," he told the Observer shortly after training on Tuesday.

Stephens said they have been plagued by a number of injuries leading up to the start of the season, including to one of its best strikers Ramone McGregor, who was hurt during training that same day.

"We don't know if he will be ready for Tuesday (September 14), we just have to watch it and see," he said.

That first game will be against Mona High in an away fixture.

Norman Manley will play their home matches at the nearby Maxfield Park field, while STATHS will probably benefit from playing their home matches on their own turf at Bumper Hall, which would seem fortuitous, considering the financial challenges Williams said they have faced this season.

"The boys have been coming out despite the resources that are here because they have become accustomed to being treated properly. Everybody is cutting back this year; we couldn't even have a camp. We had to come in the mornings and train in the afternoon and we provide lunch for them," he explained.

"We have been challenged by lack of financial support, but we're doing well with what we have," he added.

Williams said the team had been going through a rebuilding phase all year. Training for the upcoming season only began in July, yet he is optimistic about what he has seen so far.

"The preparations are not as good as we would like, but fine so far. We have a lot of young players... only four players form last year with Manning Cup experience. The bulk of the side is 'Colts' players and Under-16 who recently came to the school," he said.

Norman Manley played two practice matches last Sunday, with one victory and one defeat. Stephens was however not perturbed and outside of that, as he told the Observer: "Overall, everything is going smoothly so far."

Of the other teams in the group, Meadowbrook will play their home matches at Michigan Avenue, while Penwood play their home games at Molynes United ground.

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