DEFENDING champions Couples Sans Souci are the first team to qualify for the semi-finals of the Sandals-sponsored St Ann/ St Mary Business House Football Competition.

Couples Sans Souci booked their slot with an exciting 1-0 victory over rivals Sunset Jamaica Grande over the weekend, to take their tally to an unassailable 16 points in Zone A, thus topping that group.

Beaches Ocho Rios presented themselves with a glorious chance of joining the defending champions as qualifiers from that zone with a hard fought 1-0 win over compatriots Sandals Royal Plantation on Monday. The win puts them on seven points with two games in hand.

Couples Ocho Rios, currently on 10 points from five matches, and Sunset Jamaica Grande, with five points and two games to go, are also in with chances of making the semi-finals from Zone A.

A number of teams are tightly bunched in Zone B, with no clear qualifiers as yet. Grande Bahai Principe and St Ann Development Corporation (SADCO) sit on top with 13 points each, having completed their preliminary-round fixtures. Their competition is in the firm of RIU Ocho Rios, just behind on 10 points with a match in hand.

Competition continues on Thursday with Beaches Ocho Rios in a must-win clash with Golden Eye Resorts. A win for the Beaches team will see them in with a strong chance of outpacing Couples Ocho Rios for the crucial semi-final slot.

Sandals Regional public relations manager for Ocho Rios Ian Spencer noted that he was pleased with the action displayed so far.

“The football has been exciting, and the quality of a high standard. We are looking forward to the final set of preliminary matches and the semis and finals to come.”