Completing the double in prep school football is no easy task but many-time winners Mona Prep have the chance to do so when they take on Hillel in the final of the JISA Canopy Insurance Alberga Cup National Under-12 competition this afternoon at AISK, starting at 2:00 pm.

Mona, who beat Liberty Academy in the Henriques Cup knockout competition last Saturday, qualified for the final after beating preseason favourites Emmanuel Christian Academy 1-0 in their semi-final on Wednesday at Maxfield Park.

The school won both schoolboy titles eight years ago under Head Coach Alfred Nelson. He has the opportunity to do so again and believes his boys are physically and mentally ready for the challenge.

“They are upbeat, another final shows the work they have been putting in for the last couple months. It’s just to now finish up the season, they’re in good stead and a good frame of mind. The last time we played for a double was 2015. This group want to make their own history, they want to set their own legacy, so they’re up and ready for it,” he said.

Hillel, however, will be looking to spoil the party as they seek their first ever hold on the Alberga Cup. They advanced to the last four as the best second-placed team but managed to overcome group winners and title aspirants Sts Peter and Paul 2-1.

Nelson, though, says Mona will approach the game like they would any other.

“There’s nothing much to change. I haven’t seen Hillel this season, I maybe saw a glimpse of them in the semi-final but didn’t get a real look at them because we were preparing for our game. I don’t think we’ll change anything much, we’ll focus on ourselves and see what is happening,” said Nelson.

Mona will be looking to follow Lannaman’s Prep who won the Alberga Cup and Henriques Cup in 2022.

In the third-place play-off at 1:00 pm, also at AISK, Sts Peter and Paul will tackle former champions Emmanuel Christian Academy.

— Daniel Blake