THE National Stadium should be buzzing on Saturday as a galaxy of schoolboy football stars strut their stuff in the Inter-secondary Schools Sports Association (ISSA) All-Manning versus All-daCosta showdown.

The contest, set to start at 6:00 pm, makes a return following a seven-year absence.

ISSA President Keith Wellington pointed out that the cancellation of the proposed clash between the Jamaican all-school players and their Trinidad and Tobago counterparts facilitated this match. He said, however, the idea is to return the Manning versus All daCosta as an annual event.

“I definitely want it to be a part of the calendar at this time of the year. We want to use January as a sort of postseason where the best talent out of the schoolboy football get different opportunities — including scholarships — as scouts will be there and [observing them] playing quality games at a higher level,” said Wellington.

“I think it is something worth coming out to watch. There are a few players in the Under-17 that we would have wanted but outside of that, all the players have made themselves available,” he added.

The season-ending All-Manning versus All-DaCosta match was last played in 2015 and was won by the Corporate Area team.

In 1964 the all-conquering Kingston College team had 11 players selected to the All-Manning team with 10 players starting — an occurrence yet to be repeated by any school.

In 1981 Dinthill Technical had nine players in the All-daCosta squad, and this year the all-island champions Clarendon College have nine players in the 22-member squad. They are goalkeeper Romeo Daniels, defenders Adrian Mitchell, Devonti Hodges, Okeemo Jones; midfielders Theon Cupee, Malachi Douglas; and forwards Christopher Hull, Keheim Dixon and Marques Reid.

The team, to be coached by Clarendon College’s Lenworth Hyde, also includes goalkeeper Mowey Morgan of STETHS; Anrick Gordon and Shane Gordon of Central High; and Manchester High’s trio of Javaine Lindsay, Yarek Carnegie and Roshaun Reynolds.

There are also three players from Manning’s School in Devonte Rodney, Jhamaleek Porter and Shamar Hamilton. The others are Giovanni Afflick (Dinthill), Clayton Peck (Edwin Allen), Foga Road’s Chadwick Woolcock, and Glenmuir’s David Reid.

The All-Manning team, to be coached by Jamaica’s College’s Davion Ferguson, has eight players from his Manning Cup and Champions Cup title-winning squad. They are goalkeeper Rassico Rose; defenders Michael Graham, Romain Blake, Xavier Davidson; midfielders Kevaughn Wilson, Jahmarly Bennett; and forwards J’havier Lynch and Maquan Aldridge.

Beaten finalists St Andrew Technical have five selections in Rashard Frankson, Andre Salmon, Omar Reid, Shakeone Satchwell and Nickoy Gayle.

The Corporate Area team is completed by players of the season Dujuan Richards and Blaine Byam of Kingston College; the Mona High trio of goalkeeper Akeem Bernard, goalscoring defender Donhue Mitchell and midfielder Damoi Whitfield; Tivoli Gardens High’s Daniel Watson; Nickyle Ellis of St Catherine High; and Jahwayn Payne of Haile Selassie High.

The stage is set for an epic and entertaining matchup as Jamaica’s finest go on display.

It’s very difficult to predict a winner in these all-star games but with the manner in which Clarendon College dispatched Jamaica College in the all-island Olivier Shield play-off, there is an urge to lean towards the rural team.

But on the flip side the Corporate Area team has one Dujuan Richards who almost single-handedly destroyed Clarendon College in the Champions Cup, scoring four times. His presence could swing the pendulum in favour of the All-Manning team.