MANY-TIME champions Jamaica College (JC) will not only be defending their Manning Cup title today, but also an unbeaten Manning Cup run spanning four years dating back to 2012.

Head coach, Miguel Coley, told the Jamaica Observer that a lot is at stake and his school is ready for the challenge.

“It’s going to be a tough game… Jamaica College seeking to retain the Manning Cup title and seeking to create history as being the only team to win the Manning Cup three times and defending their unbeaten run from 2012,” Coley pointed out.

Having ended a 33-year drought in 2007 when they won the Manning Cup for the first time since 1974, JC again won in 2010 and St George’s College took away the title in 2011.

However, in their effort to regain the Manning Cup in 2012, JC went unbeaten, but drew two crucial games in the second round and lost out to Hydel High on goal difference for a semi-final spot. Hydel would eventually lose to St George’s College in the final.

Nevertheless, JC would regain the title in 2013 and 2014. Both times they were invincible in the Manning Cup as the Dark Blue juggernaut steamrolled everything in front of them.

They did lose the Walker Cup to fierce rivals St George’s last year, and after losing the prolific Junior Flemmings and the dangerous Raffique Bryan, they again got a rude awakening in the Super Cup this year.

“We want back the pride and dignity at Old Hope Road,” said Coley.

“We have done a lot of work with them (players) mentallty and practically in the past two weeks, in terms of going out there and playing and believing once more that they are champions,” he added.

“There are some bruises from the last game in a match where we got most of the chances, but as we were not compact and organised as Jamaica College team can be. We have done some work and the boys are really motivated and raring to go,” Coley reiterated.

“It will be a fantastic game between two teams and at the end of the day, I am confident we will be the champions,” he added.

— Howard Walker