Defending champions Mona and Jamaica College (JC) will clash in today’s highly anticipated opening round quarter-final match of the ISSA/Digicel Manning Cup competition at the Stadium East field, starting at 2:00 pm.

In the second match of the double-header, Kingston College (KC) will face Tivoli Gardens at 4:15 pm.

The Craig Butler-coached Mona, who are firm favourites to retain their title, have been in excellent form this season, topping their second-round group with a perfect nine points from three matches. Butler, a past student of JC, has led his team to an impressive 11 goals scored and just one conceded in the second round.

Keven Jones, principal of Mona, said his team is feeling confident ahead of today’s game.

“The coaching staff and boys are ready. I was at training yesterday [Wednesday], and I spoke to them, and everybody seems to be beaming with confidence,” said Jones. “I don’t think that they have any fear and I don’t think that they are worried, but what they are focusing on is going there and executing according to the plan and we will see what the results will be on Friday.”

On the other hand, the Davion Ferguson-coached JC have had an up-and-down season. Despite finishing unbeaten in their second-round group with five points, JC had to settle for second place behind St Catherine, who topped the group with seven points. JC scored nine goals in their three second-round games but conceded four.

“We are at the quarter-finals stage of the competition and once you reach this stage, every game is a big game, and we will treat it as such,” said Ferguson. “We know what our objectives are this season, and at this stage of the competition, we take nobody lightly. No matter the name or the school, we take every game at this stage very seriously.”

“I think that every game in this phase of the competition is going to be tough because there are no easy teams left in the tournament,” Ferguson continued. “No matter who it is, we have prepared for it and we are going there to do our best.”

He also acknowledged that Mona is a very strong all-around team but stated that his team is ready to fight for the three points.

“Every game that we play, we play to win and to give our best, and once we give our best, that is good enough. We can’t ask for anything else,” Ferguson underscored.

Butler has been very bullish ahead of the match and both sets of supporters are eager to lock horns given recent bad blood between both football groups, following Mona’s title celebration last season, which saw several students storm the JC campus in a move that was been widely condemned.

Friday’s Matches

•Mona vs Jamaica College at Stadium East field at 2:00 pm

•Kingston College vs Tivoli Gardens at Stadium East field at 4:15 pm

•Excelsior vs Hydel at Jamaica College at Jamaica College at 3:00 pm

•St Catherine vs Campion College at Spanish Town Prison Oval at 3:00 pm