THE 2006 champions Bridgeport High will seek revenge against many-time winners Jamaica College (JC) when both teams meet in the semi-final of the ISSA/Pepsi/Digicel Manning Cup competition at the Ferdie Neita Park in Braeton, St Catherine at 3:00 pm.

In the opening match of the double-header, Waterford will oppose former champions Norman Manley at 1:00 pm.

Jamaica College dominated the second round of the competition with seven points from their three matches, despite finishing second to Waterford in the preliminary group stage.

In the second round, however, they recorded victories over Bridgeport and Kingston College before drawing with 2009 champions St George’s to secure top spot in the group.

JC’s team manager Ian Forbes expressed optimism when the Observer contacted him yesterday ahead of what is expected to be a keen tussle.

“We are optimistic of getting a positive outcome and we are going to give it our all to ensure we get a positive outcome. We know they (Bridgeport) are always a fighting team and we certainly won’t be taking them lightly,” he said.

He added that the players are cautiously confident after two late goals pushed them to victory over their opponents in the previous round.

“The win gives us confidence but it’s not a big factor because it’s a new game and we just have to approach it like we have approached all other games,” Forbes said.

Bridgeport’s head coach Anthony Patrick is seeking revenge for that defeat and is insisting that his team has learnt from previous mistakes.

“We are going into the (semi-final) game very confident. We lost to JC 0-2 in the second round, but we missed some easy opportunities and we see where we went wrong, so we have learnt from it,” he said.

Meanwhile, Waterford come into today’s game with the burden of losing one of their teammates, Okeesse Lewis, who was gunned down on Tuesday night, the day before their final second-round match against St Andrew Technical.

However, the team managed to pull itself together to get a 2-0 win over their opponents and advanced to today’s semi-finals by virtue of their head-to-head record over Charlie Smith.

“On Wednesday, before we played it was very bad, we had to get people from other schools and the ministry to come in and offer guidance,” coach Floyd Coke recounted.

“But I think they are in a good state now because that assistance we had on Wednesday helped us to focus the energy to win the game for him (Lewis) …now when you listen to the players, most of their thoughts are about his memory,” he added.

Norman Manley coach, Miguel Coley, says he expects

a highly charged atmosphere based on the recent happenings at Waterford.

“Last season, we had the experience of losing a player and we know that the longer you shut out a team like that, the more frustrated they become because they have a lot on their minds and they are exerting a lot of energy on the field,” he said.

In their only meeting this season, Norman Manley defeated Waterford in the Walker Cup quarter-final.

— Sanjay Myers & Livingston Scott