Former champions Charlie Smith Comprehensive High School and newcomers Eltham High have withdrawn from the 2004 season of the ISSA/Pepsi/Sports Plus Schoolboy Manning Cup competition.

Checks by the Jamaica Observer yesterday revealed that the violence plaguing the communities of South St Andrew and Spanish Town where Charlie Smith and Eltham are located has disrupted their preparation.
When contacted yesterday, competitions director of ISSA, George Forbes, said the withdrawal would not have an adverse effect on the tournament's fixtures.

Charlie Smith, one of the most exciting teams in competition over the years, would have competed in Group A with the likes of defending champion Excelsior, Jamaica College (JC), St Andrew Technical, Edith Dalton James and Jose Marti.

Eltham would have faced Calabar, Donald Quarrie, St Catherine High, St George's and Vauxhall in Group D. Those groups have been reduced to five teams following the withdrawals.

Meanwhile, coach of Charlie Smith, Jerome Waite, expressed disappointment with the development. "The players have not been coming out to training and it is something (tournament) they should be looking forward to. I am very disappointed," he said.

The race for local schoolboy football supremacy starts on Saturday, September 11 at Jarrett Park with a double-header.
Excelsior will tackle JC at 2:00 pm while daCosta Cup champions Frome Technical will begin the defence of their title against Rusea's at 4:00 pm.

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