Hector Wright, head coach of ISSA Ben Francis Cup finalists Cornwall College, thinks this Saturday’s all-stars showcase at STETHS Sports Complex in Santa Cruz will benefit the players involved.

Wright has been selected to be part of the all-daCosta scholastic team that will play against their all-Manning Cup counterparts before the all-daCosta and all-Manning teams meet in the feature game.

The showcase game had been a staple at the end of the season for decades until it was scrapped a few years ago with the all-schools team travelling to Florida for a series of games.

The game was reintroduced a few years ago with the addition of the all-scholastic game to help showcase players with outstanding grades who were seeking to catch the eyes of college scouts.

Wright, who represented the All-daCosta team on more than one occasion while attending Herbert Morrison Technical and was named MVP of the 1987 game that was played at he National Stadium, told the Jamaica Observer on Tuesday, “This is a very good experience for the players who will get to play alongside and against the best in the island.”

He said being invited to the teams would give the players “a boost in their confidence”, and said that, as a player, it represented “a milestone as it was significant achievement for me then and I am sure for the players now and I am sure all the players wanted to be part of it”.

On Tuesday, ISSA released the list of invitees for the all-daCosta and all-Manning squads, which saw champions, St Elizabeth Technical High (STETHS) and Excelsior High getting six players each on their respective teams.

STETHS had beaten Glenmuir High on penalties in the daCosta Cup final after they had played out a 0-0 draw, while Excelsior High defeated Jamaica College 2-0 in the Manning Cup final.

Johnoi Steadman, who was named the best goalkeeper in the daCosta Cup; Kaieem Lewis, who shared the golden boot trophy with Cornwall College’s Carlondo Morris; centre-halves Dantay Hewitt and Malachi McMaster; as well as midfielders Deadre Barnett and Jade Lynch were the players from STETHS.

Conroy Nicely, O’Neil Headley, Dunstin Cohen, Orane Watson and Orel Miller are the players from Glenmuir High, who were selected while Morris, goalkeeper Carlyle Tingling, and midfielder Mekhi Foster were the players from Cornwall College.

Kimarly Scott and Kivann Salmon, who scored in the Manning Cup final, lead the Excelsior High players in the all-Manning team along with goalkeeper Jamari Gordon, wingback Shamarie Chambers and midfielders Damarley Williams and Terrence Williams.

Wingbacks Dujoni Thompson and Dontae Logan are among the Jamaica College players that also include centreback Donald Stewart and midfielders Jabari Howell and Jamone Lyle.

All-daCosta team:

Goalkeepers – Carlyle Tinglin, Johnoi Steadman;
Defenders – Conroy Nicely, Dantay Hewitt, Malachi McMaster, O’Neal Headley, Robert Crawford, Omanie Morrison, Anthony Reid;
Midfielders – Deandre Barnett, Dunstin Cohen, Jade Lynch, Justin Hayles, Mekhi Foster, Omarion Small;
Forwards – Carlondo Morris, Kaieem Lewis, Orane Watson, Orel Miller, Shemar Daley, Terron Eccleston –
Alternates – Orane Gayle and Jevohntae Gordon.

All-Manning team:

Goalkeepers – Jamari Gordon, Jaheime Gray;
Defenders – Kevaun Campbell, Keeno Levy, Donald Stewart, Shamarie Chambers, Dujoni Thompson, Dontae Logan;
Midfielders – Stephen-Jon Beckford, Santana Headley, Jabari Howell, Jamone Lyle, Damarley Williams, Terence Williams, Kadean Young;
Forwards – Steven Bull, Deshawn Byfield, Dwight Gentles, Sean Leighton, Kivann Salmon, Kimarley Scott;
Alternates – Richardo Walker and Ryan-Oneil Francis

Excelsior’s Kimarly Scott (left), seen here in action against Charlie Smith’s Rafehael Roberts, is one of the top players on the all-Manning team. (Photo: Karl Mclarty)