JAMAICA Observer writer Paul Reid takes a look at the daCosta Cup zone by zone, weighing the permutations and expectations of the teams this season.

Zone A

The all-conquering Cornwall College Under-16 team from two years ago are mostly still together and have matured under the guidance of Dean Weatherly, who is in his second season back at the helm.

Cornwall failed to advance from Zone A last year and once again St James High and Green Pond, the class act of the zone last year, will stand in their way of moving forward.

The 11-time champions are stacked with talent in every area of the field, but Green Pond will hope to prove last season was no fluke.

Zone B

Rusea’s High and Frome Technical are expected to be the teams advancing from Zone B. Green Island, the surprise runners up last season, have lost the back- bone of that team, while Merlene Ottey are the other team in the zone.

Aaron Lawrence has taken over the reins at Rusea’s and the expectations will be high after his success at Mannings over the last few seasons.

He has big shoes to fill after Rusea’s won two of the last four daCosta Cup titles, and nothing but a title usually satisfies the legions of fans.

Zone C

William Knibb Memorial surprised many last year and their rivalry with Muschett High this season will be the highlights of Zone C.

The teams shared the two games last season with William Knibb edging Muschett High on goal difference for the zone honours in what was a close battle.

Paul ‘Tegat’ Davis, who led William Knibb to their lone daCosta Cup final appearance, is back in Martha Brae.

Zone D

Godfrey Stewart are expected to win Zone D again this season, and despite the departure of coach Patrick Graham to Reno FC, they will return nine players from last year’s starting team and 12 in total from the squad. Carl ‘Longlife’ Palmer is the new coach.

There has been no shortage of good competition and excitement in Zone D over the last few years, and Mannings School and Grange Hill are expected to provide most of the competition for Godfrey Stewart.

Zone E

As sure as the sun rises in the east and sets in the west, rivals St Elizabeth Technical, the rural area double champions last season, and Munro College, will battle it out for zone honours.

STETHS have won the zone the last four years, but have lost the bulk of last season’s team, and Munro will be motivated to try and get the better of the Omar Wedderburn-coached team this year.

Munro College have not won the daCosta Cup since 1964.

Zone F

Once again Manchester High are expected to dominate Zone F and the bet will continue with Donovan Duckey replacing Sheldon Davis as coach of the team that went to the Ben Francois KO final.

Mile Gully and Cross Keys will battle for the runner-up spot.

Zone G

Holmwood Technical have regained their form of seasons past and will start favourites to advance ahead of Spalding and Alston.

Zone H

Clarendon College are expected to make a run at the title that they last won in 1998, 16 years ago and with coach Jackie Walters in his second year of his second stint, expectations are high.

Clarendon College won the pre-season STETHS Cup and getting out of the zone should not be a problem.

Edwin Allen are being touted as a likely runner-up to Clarendon College and could advance to the Inter-zone round for the first time since the 2009 season.

Zone I

Zone I is never short of excitement between schools that are always evenly matched, and on any given day, any school can win.

Short preparation periods have dogged a few of the schools, and based on reports, Marcus Garvey Technical could be the team to beat this year.

Zone J

Another zone where parity is synonymous and St Mary Technical are expected to win the zone again and advance, but Brimmervale High and St Mary High are expected to make things interesting.

Zone K

Dinthill Technical won two titles, in 1979 and 1981, but having won twice in the last three years should make it back-to-back this year.

Fomer national player Michael Tulloch has taken over at Charlemont High and they could make a push for the first Inter-zone qualification.

Zone L

Port Antonio High were a semi-finalists last year and will hope to make another run deep into the season. They lost a number of key players from last year’s team but should have enough quality to advance again.

Titchfield High had a good pre-season and there are signs they could make some noise and even threaten for a quarter-final spot.

Zone M

Glenmuir High did well to win the zone last year, but runners-up Garvey Maceo High got all the way to the final against STETHS. Both teams are once again expected to battle for the zone honours and the outcome could be the same as last year.

Zone N

One of the zones that can spring surprises any season, but Kemps Hill and former schoolboy kingpins Vere Technical were the qualifiers last year.

Old Harbour High are in rebuilding mode and could be in the mix.

Zone O

Paul Bogle High and St Thomas Technical have basically taken this zone as their own over the last few seasons and should once again emerge as the teams to beat.