KINGSTON, Jamaica – Defending champions Kingston College (KC) have made an impressive start to the defence of their ISSA/Digicel Manning Cup title, rattling off seven wins on the trot while scoring 37 goals and conceding just two. Their 21 points accumulated so far, means that they have already qualified for the second round of the competition.

Since a solid opening day performance when they turned back rivals Calabar High 5-1, KC have steadily improved into a well-oiled machine and have banged in 17 goals in their last two matches, an ominous sign ahead of the first of two North Street derbys against neighbour St George’s College (STGC).

The first match-up should have happened two weeks ago but the fixture was postponed due to the passing of Tropical Storm Ian.

At the beginning of the season, KC appeared to be heavily dependent on their winger Dujuan “Whisper” Richards, who hit a brace on opening day and since then has scored 11 more goals including four braces and a hat-trick.

Jaheem Johnson, one of the few returning members of the victorious team last season, struggled badly in front of goal after an injury-plagued pre-season and his lack of goals had put the pressure on “Whisper” to deliver.

However, since the return leg against Meadowbrook High, Johnson has found form, scoring two goals in that game to open his account and has found the back of the net in the two games since then.

Goals have come from all over the pitch in the last few games, but the famed Purples have unearthed another goal scorer in Nashordo Gibbs.

Gibbs hit a brace against Calabar in the 5-1 win on opening day, but went cold after that, until he rediscovered his form in front of goal when given the nod to start against Ardenne High last week.

He was responsible for two goals in the nine-nil drubbing and then came off the bench to hit a nine-minute hat-trick against the well thought of Waterford High on Monday.

His appetite for goals and his penchant for being in the right place at the right time has given KC another weapon that will aid in their pursuit of a title defence.

With the North Street Derby, part one just a few heartbeats away, things are shaping up well for the school on the “south side” of the street.

Richards scored a single goal against Waterford on Monday, something unusual for him when KC scores that many, but his number of assists proves that he is becoming more of a team player, which can only augur well for the champions.