MANNING’S School are ready and raring to go for Saturday’s resumption of the ISSA daCosta Cup round-of-16 stage, despite being one of the schools to have suffered major damage during the passage of Hurricane Melissa a month ago.

Westmoreland was one of the hardest-hit parishes, and the institution — which is just a few years shy of celebrating its 290th anniversary — sustained serious structural damage.

Jessica Davidson, general manager of the Manning’s football programme, told the Jamaica Observer last weekend that members of the squad and their families have also been seriously affected. She said at least two players lost their family home, and about another 30 per cent lost roofs or experienced other structural damage to their homes.

“But there were no injury or deaths, just social disruption,” she said just prior to a recent practice game between Manning’s and urban area team Calabar High.

Patrick Graham, who took over the coaching programme at the school this season, said that, despite everything, they will be ready to go when the first whistle blows for the game against last year’s finalists McGrath High.

“The players will be ready. We are looking forward to getting back on the football field and the players are excited. We have to continue moving forward,” he told the Observer on Tuesday.

Manning’s School last played competitively a month ago when they were beaten for the first time this season, going down 1-2 to Dinthill Technical. In that encounter they played most of the game with 10 players.

Graham thinks the long layoff could work either way.

The coach pointed out that while other teams outside of western Jamaica were able to keep fit during the break, the six sides from the region had to start over again.

“At least the break gives us some time to regroup,” he noted.

Manning’s School had failed to win their last two games, having to come from behind to end 1-1 at home against Christiana High. Prior to that, they had won their first first 10 games, conceding only one goal in the process.

Graham said he is not worried about their form heading into the competition’s restart.

“We have two games to go and if we win them, we will advance. I would like to think we are still in the race for the major titles. We can kick on if we just focus on the game ahead of us [versus] McGrath High — it is going to take effort and courage,” he said.

— Paul A Reid