Subscribe Login
Jamaica Observer
ePaper
The Edge 105 FM Radio Fyah 105 FM
Jamaica Observer
ePaper
The Edge 105 FM Radio Fyah 105 FM
    • Home
    • News
      • Latest News
      • Cartoon
      • International News
      • Central
      • North & East
      • Western
      • Environment
      • Health
      • #
    • Business
      • Business Bites
      • Social Love
    • Sports
      • Football
      • Basketball
      • Cricket
      • Horse Racing
      • World Champs
      • Commonwealth Games
      • FIFA World Cup 2022
      • Olympics
      • #
    • Entertainment
      • Music
      • Movies
      • Art & Culture
      • Bookends
      • #
    • Lifestyle
      • Page2
      • Food
      • Tuesday Style
      • Food Awards
      • JOL Takes Style Out
      • Design Week JA
      • Black Friday
      • #
    • All Woman
      • Home
      • Relationships
      • Features
      • Fashion
      • Fitness
      • Rights
      • Parenting
      • Advice
      • #
    • Obituaries
    • Classifieds
      • Employment
      • Property
      • Motor Vehicles
      • Place an Ad
      • Obituaries
    • More
      • Games
      • Elections
      • Jobs & Careers
      • Study Centre
      • Jnr Study Centre
      • Letters
      • Columns
      • Advertorial
      • Editorial
      • Supplements
      • Webinars
    • Home
    • News
      • Latest News
      • Cartoon
      • International News
      • Central
      • North & East
      • Western
      • Environment
      • Health
      • #
    • Business
      • Business Bites
      • Social Love
    • Sports
      • Football
      • Basketball
      • Cricket
      • Horse Racing
      • World Champs
      • Commonwealth Games
      • FIFA World Cup 2022
      • Olympics
      • #
    • Entertainment
      • Music
      • Movies
      • Art & Culture
      • Bookends
      • #
    • Lifestyle
      • Page2
      • Food
      • Tuesday Style
      • Food Awards
      • JOL Takes Style Out
      • Design Week JA
      • Black Friday
      • #
    • All Woman
      • Home
      • Relationships
      • Features
      • Fashion
      • Fitness
      • Rights
      • Parenting
      • Advice
      • #
    • Obituaries
    • Classifieds
      • Employment
      • Property
      • Motor Vehicles
      • Place an Ad
      • Obituaries
    • More
      • Games
      • Elections
      • Jobs & Careers
      • Study Centre
      • Jnr Study Centre
      • Letters
      • Columns
      • Advertorial
      • Editorial
      • Supplements
      • Webinars
  • Home
  • News
    • International News
  • Latest
  • Business
    • Business Bites
  • Cartoon
  • Games
  • Food Awards
  • Health
  • Entertainment
    • Bookends
  • Regional
  • Sports
    • Sports
    • World Cup
    • World Champs
    • Olympics
  • All Woman
  • Career & Education
  • Environment
  • Webinars
  • More
    • Football
    • Elections
    • Letters
    • Advertorial
    • Columns
    • Editorial
    • Supplements
  • Epaper
  • Classifieds
  • Design Week
‘Garvey’, BB Coke hunt Ben Francis KO glory
GORDON... it's a final and we know what can happen on the day
Sports
November 29, 2019

‘Garvey’, BB Coke hunt Ben Francis KO glory

CATHERINE HALL, St James — Garvey Maceo High Coach Merron Gordon is shying away from the ‘favourites’ tag in today’s ISSA Ben Francis Knockout (KO) final against first-timers BB Coke at Montego Bay Sports Complex, set to start at 2:30 pm, the curtain-raiser for the daCosta Cup final.

Gordon and Garvey Maceo High are both going after their second Ben Francis KO title. Gordon had led Lennon High to their only major victory in 2016 and Garvey Maceo High won it in 2007, while BB Coke will be in their first final at any level.

As expected, both coaches report that they are confident and their charges are ready for the big day, where they hope to be the last team standing after the final whistle.

When asked about being considered favourites yesterday, Gordon said: “I don’t know about that, both teams are in the final, we have both worked hard to get here and have beaten good teams to get here as well.”

Gordon is no stranger to finals after taking Lennon High to the daCosta Cup final in 2010, losing controversially in extra time to Rusea’s High at Jarrett Park before beating St Elizabeth Technical in the Ben Francis KO in 2016.

The players, however, will be playing in a major final for the first time, despite winning the Inter-Secondary Inter-Secondary Schools Sports Association (ISSA) Rural Area Under-16 title last year.

“It’s a final and we know what can happen on the day; the staff has done some good work with the team and we have stressed the mental aspect, we want them to keep focused and not to get too excited or nervous,” Gordon said.

The key, Gordon notes, was for his players to stay “humble and hungry” stressing that the first 15 minutes of the game could set the trend for what is to come, and they would have to be careful at the start.

BB Coke won’t be short of support from the stands, according to Coach Kemar Ricketts, who said at least “six or seven busloads of fans will be heading to the game”.

Despite the school being in a final for the first time, Ricketts said a number of his players were part of the Downs FC team that won the South-Central Super League last season and were not strangers to playing in big games.

“There is no pressure…we are the surprise package this season and Garvey Maceo are the favourites,” he said.

Had the game gone ahead last week when it was originally set to be played, Ricketts could have been forced to sit out a few of his starters who were suffering from dengue, but yesterday he told the Jamaica Observer those players were fully recovered and ready to go.

BB Coke grabbed headlines when they came from two goals down to beat Manchester High 4-2 in their return-leg first-round game, but Ricketts said it was the return-leg of their second-round game against Lennon High that turned their season around and gave them the confidence that they could go far into the season.

“We had qualified for the second round last year but got knocked out and once we got over that hurdle we started to believe in ourselves,” he said, after the Junction-based school beat Lennon 1-0 away for a 2-2 aggregate and advanced on the away goal rule.

Jason Dyer, who scored for them in that game, has led the school all year, scoring 19 goals and will lead the attack today along with Kimani Case and Danyae Whitely.

Garvey Maceo will look to Gregory Cousins, Barrington Blake, Cleo Clarke and Tyreke Henry, all of who scored big goals throughout the season.

— Paul Reid

{"website":"website"}{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
img img
0 Comments · Make a comment

ALSO ON JAMAICA OBSERVER

Jamaica hold off Puerto Rico 1-0 to advance to Concacaf Boyz U20
Football, Latest News, Sports
Jamaica hold off Puerto Rico 1-0 to advance to Concacaf Boyz U20
March 3, 2026
KINGSTON, Jamaica — Jamaica qualified for the 2026 Concacaf Under-20 Boys Championships after edging Puerto Rico 1-0 in their Qualifiers - Round 1 Gro...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
90-y-o ‘Mass Joe’ benefits from house refurbished after Hurricane Melissa through community effort
Latest News, News
90-y-o ‘Mass Joe’ benefits from house refurbished after Hurricane Melissa through community effort
March 3, 2026
ST ELIZABETH, Jamaica — A nine-decade resident of New Town known locally as “Mass Joe” has been given a new lease on life after Hurricane Melissa left...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Jamaican sign language training programme for public libraries launched
Latest News, News
Jamaican sign language training programme for public libraries launched
March 3, 2026
KINGSTON, Jamaica — The Jamaica Libraries and Information Network (JAMLIN) has launched a phased Jamaican Sign Language (JSL) training programme aimed...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Jamaica must consider social media restrictions, experts say
Latest News, News
Jamaica must consider social media restrictions, experts say
DANA MALCOLM, Observer Online reporter, malcolmd@jamaicaobserver.com 
March 3, 2026
As more countries mull social media bans for children of certain ages and a landmark trial unfolds in the United States over use of the platforms, loc...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Latest News, Sports
Jamaica name unchanged team for U20 clash against Puerto Rico
March 3, 2026
KINGSTON, Jamaica — The Jamaican coaching staff has named an unchanged team for Tuesday’s critical Concacaf Boys' U-20 Qualifiers - Round 1 Group B to...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Latest News, Sports
Jamaica name unchanged team for U20 clash against Puerto Rico
March 3, 2026
KINGSTON, Jamaica — The Jamaican coaching staff have named an unchanged team for Tuesday’s critical Concacaf Boys U-20 Qualifiers - Round 1 Group B to...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Bail extended for Lisa Hyper
Latest News, News
Bail extended for Lisa Hyper
March 3, 2026
KINGSTON, Jamaica — Bail was extended for dancehall artiste Lisa Hyper, whose given name is Felicia Gooden, when she appeared in the Kingston and St A...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Winston Jones High student breaks barriers with excellence: Jaydon Morgan shines in housekeeping
Latest News, News
Winston Jones High student breaks barriers with excellence: Jaydon Morgan shines in housekeeping
March 3, 2026
MANCHESTER, Jamaica — Among the many students demonstrating commitment to their craft at Winston Jones High School is fifth-form student Jaydon Morgan...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
❮ ❯

Polls

HOUSE RULES

  1. We welcome reader comments on the top stories of the day. Some comments may be republished on the website or in the newspaper; email addresses will not be published.
  2. Please understand that comments are moderated and it is not always possible to publish all that have been submitted. We will, however, try to publish comments that are representative of all received.
  3. We ask that comments are civil and free of libellous or hateful material. Also please stick to the topic under discussion.
  4. Please do not write in block capitals since this makes your comment hard to read.
  5. Please don't use the comments to advertise. However, our advertising department can be more than accommodating if emailed: advertising@jamaicaobserver.com.
  6. If readers wish to report offensive comments, suggest a correction or share a story then please email: community@jamaicaobserver.com.
  7. Lastly, read our Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy

Recent Posts

Archives

Facebook
Twitter
Instagram
Tweets

Polls

Recent Posts

Archives

Logo Jamaica Observer
Breaking news from the premier Jamaican newspaper, the Jamaica Observer. Follow Jamaican news online for free and stay informed on what's happening in the Caribbean
Featured Tags
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Health
  • Auto
  • Business
  • Letters
  • Page2
  • Football
Categories
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Entertainment
  • Page2
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Entertainment
  • Page2
Ads
img
Jamaica Observer, © All Rights Reserved
  • Home
  • Contact Us
  • RSS Feeds
  • Feedback
  • Privacy Policy
  • Editorial Code of Conduct