Jamaica’s schoolboy football season will take on a festival atmosphere this Saturday, September 12, when the Inter-Secondary Schools Sports Association (ISSA) stages its inaugural Super Saturday In-Season Festival at venues across the island.

The concept is a major departure from the traditional schoolboy football calendar. Rather than waiting for the seeded teams to enter the main competitions, ISSA has brought a number of the country’s leading Manning Cup and daCosta Cup teams together for a day of high-level exhibition football.

The festival is designed to keep the top-ranked teams match-ready after receiving byes into the second round of the respective competitions. Thirty teams are involved, with three Manning Cup and three daCosta Cup schools assigned as host venues. Each team will play twice.

There will be no overall champion crowned, but sectional awards and individual performances will provide plenty of incentive for players and coaches and judging from the match-ups at Manchester High and St George’s College, fans are in for an intriguing day.

At Manchester High, the action begins at 9:30 am with Christiana High versus St Catherine High, followed by Manchester High against Tivoli Gardens at 11:00 am. Then at 12:30 pm, Kemps Hill High takes on Excelsior High before Tivoli Gardens return to the field at 2:00 pm against Christiana High.
The afternoon continues with St Catherine High versus Kemps Hill High at 3:30 pm, before the day’s finale sees Excelsior High tackle Manchester High at 5:00 pm.

One of the afternoon’s biggest attractions could be Excelsior’s appearance. The Mountain View-based school enters the festival as the defending Manning Cup and Olivier Shield all-island champion after completing a historic double last season.

Coach Keon Broderick believes his squad has the depth to challenge for another successful campaign, and Saturday provides an early opportunity to measure that squad against rural opposition.

St George’s College promises another big attraction where another six-team programme will unfold.
The opening game at 9:30 am pits Clarendon College against St Jago High, before McGrath High faces St George’s College at 11:00 am. At 12:30 pm, Old Harbour High meets Jamaica College.

The afternoon schedule then sees St Jago High versus McGrath High at 2:00 pm, followed by St George’s College against Old Harbour High at 3:30 pm. The day’s final match at the venue is arguably one of the most eye-catching which will be Jamaica College versus Clarendon College at 5:00 pm. That clash brings together two schools with strong football traditions and should provide a fitting finale to the St George’s College programme.

–Howard Walker