KINGSTON, Jamaica – BB Coke High and Brown’s Town High both secured their places in a mini playoff that will be used to determine the six automatic qualifiers from Zones C, E and I in the ISSA/Wata daCosta Cup football competition, joining three others.

Cedric Titus High from Zone C, St Elizabeth Technical High (STETHS) from Zone E and Tacky High from Zone I had earlier secured their spots in the four team play-off that will determine which two will take their places in the second round.

According to a system that was reintroduced this season, there are eight teams in each of the three zones, two more than the recommended maximum six teams, vying for the two automatic second round spots but unlike the other 11 zones, they will not play home and away games to determine the qualifiers.

Instead each of the teams in those zones will play seven games after which the top four on points will play -off against each other and the top two will advance to the second round.

Meanwhile, the bottom four teams will also play -off against each other but only for placement as they cannot advance.

BB Coke High secured their place alongside STETHS from Zone E on Monday after beating Sydney Pagon High 4-0 to join the former champions on 16 points each.

Cedric Titus High are one 16 points in Zone C from six games and certain of their place in the play-off with Brown’s Town High and Ocho Rios, who drew 1-1 at Drax Hall on Monday, also still in the running along with York Castle High and William Knibb Memorial.

Tacky High leads Zone I with 14 points with a game to go and are certain of their place, while Wycliffe Martin High, who beat Horace Clarke High 2-0 on Monday; Horace Clarke, Annotto Bay High and St Mary High are also in the running.

– Paul A Reid