Dear Editor,

In my opinion, the 2013 ISSA schoolboy soccer season has to go down as one of the best organised and most thrilling sporting events put on by that body.

Over a week ago, for example, St Elizabeth Technical High School (STETHS), the pride of Santa Cruz, lifted the daCosta Cup by the widest margin of victory in a rural area final since the dawn of the 21st century. This is the same STETHS that reached the daCosta Cup finals four times in five years with back-to-back losses in-between and two victories sandwiching them. This is the same school that has set a record in winning four Ben Francis championships in a row. STETHS also produced the record-breaking schoolboy scorer of 35 goals in a season — a feat which earned him a call to the national senior squad.

But when it comes on to sheer excitement on a higher level, pride of place goes to the Corporate Area champions — Jamaica College and Wolmers. In their quest to cop the Corporate Area double the boys from Heroes Circle first had to beat the defending Manning Cup champions St George’s College. This they did after a 120-minute thriller which saw eight goals shared equally between the two giants. Penalties had to separate them with Wolmer’s coming out on top with the odd goal in seven.

They were now the firm favourites to get the better of Jamaica College in the finals a week later; but after another thriller, this time after an inexplicable 130 minutes; the boys from Hope Road came from behind to grab the Manning Cup with both hands for a record 25 times. Wolmer’s, on the other hand, with the sons of former national players Milverton Brooks and Lennie Hyde, had snatched defeat from the jaws of victory. This was not the first time that the Manning Cup champions were putting on a Houdini act. Against Charlie Smith they came from two goals down to win 4-2. The magical victory brought tears to the eyes of their new coach Miguel Coley. Later Charlie Smith scored the fastest goal in history against Wolmer’s with one kick from the half line.

For sheer excitement and moments of magic, not to mention old records broken and new records set, the 2013 schoolboy football season is unforgettable. After the disappointment of the Reggae Boyz’s failure to make it to Brazil next year, football fans could not have asked for a better consolation prize. On behalf of the real football fans and those called waggonists, congrats to ISSA, and to JC for becoming the new all-Island Olivier champs.

D P Zagalo

Kingston 8