THE much-anticipated Inter-Secondary School Sports Association (ISSA)/Flow Manning Cup kicks off today with defending champions Jamaica College (JC) tackling Calabar High in Group A at Catherine Hall Sports Complex in St James starting at 2:30 pm.

The game will be followed by the official Opening Ceremony at 4:20 pm, as well as an exciting entertainment package by telecommunications and title sponsors Flow.

The newly rebranded competition will also be highlighted by the innovation of night fixtures, as well as the introduction of a new pooling system, which will see a number of school kits being branded with diverse sponsors’ logo.

Eight games will be contested on the opening day, as opposed to last year when all the zones were in action on the opening day in what was a hectic schedule of games last season.

The Manning Cup format remains the same and will be contested by 38 teams consisting of seven groups. Four groups will have five teams each, while the other three groups include six teams each.

The top-two teams from each group, plus the best two second-placed teams will advance to the second round. The 16 teams will then be divided into four zones of four with the winners advancing to the semi-finals.

JC, the most successful school in the Manning Cup, are howling favourites, not only to kick-start their defence with a bang, but also win the overall title. The Miguel Coley-coached team will be targeted, but should be ready for the challenge.

The Old Hope Road-based team will be without the services of midfielder Sheldon McKoy, who has now joined the Rutgers University roster. They will also be without other seasoned players including the prolific Junior Flemmings, who led them to the Manning and Super Cup as well as the Olivier Shield last season.

Flemmings was also instrumental in their Manning Cup and Olivier Shield title win in 2013, when he copped the leading goalscorer award with 22 strikes and was voted the most valuable player (MVP). However, the champions are known for their ability to produce talent, and should be well served in the area, and it will be interesting to see how they figure throughout the season in the hunt to retain their titles, and possibly add the Walker Cup to their collection of silverware.

The Bradley Stewart-coached Calabar last won the title back in 2005, but have been struggling to find a formidable outfit since. The Red Hills Road-based team did figure prominently throughout last season but faltered when it mattered most and will be optimistic getting off to a positive start against the Juggernauts.

Meanwhile, St Catherine High will host Tivoli Gardens High in the other Group A fixture. Holy Trinity will welcome St Mary’s College, while St Andrew Technical High School (STATHS) will be at home to

Penwood in Group D.

Over in Group E, Wolmer’s will battle St Jago and Mona High will welcome Kingston High, while Group G will see Kingston College tackling last year’s semi-finalist Camperdown and Waterford hosting

Jose Marti.

All games are scheduled to begin at 3:30 pm, except for the Kingston College versus Camperdown encounter which will kick-off at 5:00 pm at Harbour View Mini-stadium.