Following Excelsior High’s 13-0 whipping of Edith Dalton James High in the 2023 Inter-secondary Schools Sports Association (ISSA)/TIP Friendly Society Schoolgirls’ Football Competition on Wednesday, Head Coach Xavier Gilbert says there’s nothing to get excited about as his team is yet to be tested in the tournament.

Playing at home, Excelsior dominated the game from the opening whistle and never gave up their momentum until the end of the match. All departments were firing as the players controlled the tempo and displayed some very exciting football with some brilliant one-two passes; long-range passes, and striking of the ball.

Captain and national representative Shaneil Buckley led the scoring for the defending champion with six goals. She netted in the 35th, 38th, 69th, 73rd, 74th, and 77th from the penalty spot. She got support from Cassandra Smith, who scored four goals (11th, 15th, 20th, and 60th minutes), and Destiny Powell, who scored three goals in the 5th, 68th, and 79th minutes.

Gilbert said that he was pleased with the efforts of his players and believes that they can defend their title this season based on the quality of the team.

“The girls are doing well. I anticipated that this match would have been our toughest challenge in the group, and probably it was, but nonetheless, it still came across quite easily for the young girls. They handled it well, and we must give them credit one step at a time,” Gilbert told the Jamaica Observer.

“We have not yet received any challenges from the teams so far, but I anticipated that when we get down to the final four that we will get some competition. We just want to make it to the top four, and then we will take it from there.

“Once you are in the top four, you are in with a shot, and we have the stools to retain the title, but that’s why we play the game; nothing is given to you; you have to go out there and work for it.

“I think our toughest encounter will come from the team that we beat in the final last year, Garvey Maceo. If all goes well, I think we both should be in the final again, and if we fool ourselves, they are going to beat us for sure, so we have to come out and play,” Gilbert said.

THURSDAY’S GAME

ZONE B

Titchfield vs Yallahs @ Titchfield

Denham Town vs Seaford @ Edward Seaga Sports Complex

Camperdown vs Tivoli Gardens @ Alpha Boys’ School

ZONE D

Kemps Hill vs Garvey Maceo @ TBD

Lennon vs Foga Road @ Lennon

Central vs Denbigh @ Bushy Park

ZONE E

Holmwood vs Belair @ Holmwood

Mile Gully vs Christiana @ Mile Gully Community Centre

All games begin at 3:00 pm.