WHITEHOUSE, Westmoreland – Belmont Academy of Westmoreland are one of two new schools that will make their first appearance in the Inter-Secondary Schools Sports Association daCosta Cup schoolboys football competition when it kicks off on September 8 at the Montego Bay Sports Complex in St James.

Belmont Academy and Sydney Pagon High from St Elizabeth join 86 other schools to contest the island’s largest football competition.

Twenty-four schools from western Jamaica are among this year’s daCosta Cup mix with Rusea’s High defending the title they won last year, when they upset Clarendon College in the final played at the Montego Bay Sports Complex.

Belmont Academy, a regular participant in the Under 14 and Under 16 competitions, play in Zone D alongside Petersfield High, Manning’s School, Little London High and Knockalva Technical, with the last moving from Zone B where they played last season.

Knockalva Technical were shifted to Zone D, normally populated by Westmoreland schools, after four schools, including former champions Godfrey Stewart High, indicated that they will not be taking part this season.

In addition to Godfrey Stewart, Grange Hill, Black River and Maud McLeod High have decided not to participate this year.

Rusea’s High are slotted in Zone B along with Merlene Ottey High, returning after a two-year absence, Frome Technical, Green Island High and Hopewell High.

Cornwall College, Anchovy High, Green Pond High, Irwin High, Maldon High and St James High, contest Zone A; while Cedric Titus High, Herbert Morrison Technical, Holland High, Muschett High, Spot Valley High and William Knibb Memorial are in Zone C.

In preseason preparations, Cornwall College were recently defeated 1-2 by Kingston College in Montego Bay.