The National Stadium is expected to be buzzing with excitement this afternoon as four of the nation's top schoolboy football teams clash in the quarter-finals of the ISSA/Champions Cup Knockout competition.
In the first of a double-header at 3:00 pm, Dinthill Technical face former champions Kingston College (KC), while the feature game at 5:15 pm sees Clarendon College taking on St George's College.
Coached by the vastly experienced Vassell Reynolds, KC, having been beaten 2-1 by Jamaica College in last year's final, seek redemption. The North Street-based institution, enjoying an excellent season, aims to go all the way this year.
Clarendon, the favourites for this year's title, take aim at their second hold on the trophy, last tasting glory in 2021.
Lenworth "Teacher" Hyde, coach of Clarendon College, expressed confidence, but expects a tough match against their opponents.
"We are looking forward to it because we have put ourselves in this position, and so we have to go out there and play some good football like we have been doing all season," he said .
"We are ready for it and it will be an excellent game for the spectators to come out and see because these are two teams that are playing good football this year," Hyde added.
He admitted St George's is a well-coached team, and therefore, his team will have to come out very hard from the opening whistle.
"We are confident and so we are just going to go out there and put our best foot forward and play the brand of football that we have been playing for a couple of years now," he said. "We love the surface at the National Stadium and we also love this kind of atmosphere and so we are just going to go out there and enjoy every moment of it and play some good football," Hyde stated.
Marcel "Fuzzy" Gayle, assistant coach of St George's College, anticipates a pulsating contest with Clarendon College.
"It is always going to be a humdinger between Clarendon College and St George's College because both teams play a similar style of football, and we are expecting nothing but fireworks on Tuesday," he said.
"We are very confident because it is a knockout game and we don't have a choice but to go out there and win the game against Clarendon College," noted Gayle.
"We can't allow Clarendon College to dictate the pace of the game because they are a very good team and they have quality players and a good coaching staff and so we are fully aware of what they are capable of in all areas on the field," he added.
The other quarter-final matches today are Hydel vs Garvey Maceo at Manchester High School, and Mona vs Glenmuir at St Elizabeth Technical. Both games also kick off at 3:00 pm.
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