THE second staging of the much-anticipated ISSA/Flow Super Cup knockout competition will get under way today with eight mouth-watering encounters across three venues as 16 teams hunt the $1-million winning prize.

The Catherine Hall Stadium in Montego Bay, as well as the National Stadium and Sabina Park in Kingston are expected to be abuzz with excitement, especially with the introduction of the seeding system which pits the top teams from the Manning and daCosta Cup competitions against the unseeded teams of both competitions.

However, anything can happen on the day as teams will have their eyes on the cash incentives in addition to the newly Italian-designed 24lb trophy in the lucrative four-week knockout competition.

Champions Jamaica College (JC), who were recently dumped from the urban Walker Cup knockout competition, will meet Vere Technical in what should be a keenly contested feature game at the National Stadium scheduled for 6:00 pm.

The 26-time Manning Cup champions brushed everything aside to capture all but one title last year and were tagged to repeat the feat this year. The Miguel Coley-coached team suffered its first defeat all season in a 3-4 loss to Wolmer’s Boys’ on penalty, but could have a reaction against Vere today. They are struggling in front of goal, and with another title hanging on the line, they will have to capitalise on their chances if they are to stay in contention.

But Vere Technical are riding high and have also only lost once all season. The Clarendon-based team topped their zone in the first round of the daCosta Cup competition with five wins and a loss, and later advanced to the Super Cup with three wins from as many games and should prove a formidable foe.

In the curtain-raiser of the double-header at the National Stadium, Manning Cup dark horse St Jago High will tackle the unseeded Lacovia High from St Elizabeth at 4:00 pm.

Donald ‘Iceman’ Anderson will host the entertainment package, which will be headlined by Chris Martin and comedy duo Ity and Fancy Cat.

The Catherine Hall Stadium will host three games with Kingston College versus Glenmuir High kicking off proceedings at 2:00 pm. Then at 4:00 pm, the youthful Charlie Smith High will tackle an experienced St Elizabeth Technical High School (STETHS) unit. The final game will pit Mountain View-based Excelsior High against St James High at 6:00 pm.

The entertainment package will be hosted by Badda Bling, with a live performance by Bugle.

Meanwhile, daCosta Cup champions Clarendon College will have last year’s first-round exit on their mind when they revisit Sabina Park to tackle Ferry-based Hydel High in the curtain-raiser at 2:00 pm.

Then, an in-form Wolmer’s Boys’ outfit will make the short trip to oppose Port Antonio High at 4:00 pm, while the high-riding St George’s College, located next to the venue, will feel at home when they take on the Westmoreland-based Petersfield High in the feature game at 6:00 pm.

This venue will have performances by dancehall star Beenie Man and Ity and Fancy Cat to be hosted by Triple X.

Telecommunications provider Flow has reminded patrons that they must have tickets to enter the three venues for this weekend’s match-ups. Tickets will be available at select Flow stores in Kingston, St Catherine and Montego Bay.

The purchase of $500 and $200 mobile credit at these locations will offer free grandstand and bleachers tickets, respectively, while entry at the gate is $500 (grandstand) and $200 (bleachers).