Classy quartet poised for mouth-watering semis
Published: Tuesday | November 12, 2013 0 Comments
McDonald
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Marc Stamp, Gleaner Writer
Today's semi-finals in the Inter-Secondary Schools Sports Association (ISSA)/LIME Walker Cup knockout football competition promises two exciting matchups at the Constant Spring Sports Complex.
In the first of the double-header, St George's College square off against Excelsior High at 1 p.m., to be followed by defending champions Wolmer's Boys meeting Charlie Smith High at 3 p.m.
Having missed out on the Walker Cup title last season, St George's, who won the Manning Cup and Olivier Shield titles in 2012, will certainly be looking to make a clean sweep of all silverwares available.
St George's College head coach, Neville 'Bertis' Bell, says he expects a tough challenge from the Excelsior team.
"It's going to be a tough game for us as they (Excelsior) are a hard-working team. However, we wanted to be here and we are confident," Bell, who guided the North Street-based institution to the Triple Crown in 2011, told The Gleaner yesterday morning.
"We are happy to be in both semi-finals, but I am not totally pleased with the performances as it has been up and down for us," Bell pointed out.
He also said many persons had doubts about the team and predicted that they would not advance from the group in the preliminary stage.
"We lost about eight or nine top players from the team last year and many persons doubted us. But we are not surprised at the team's progress in both competitions," he disclosed.
Ryan Miller, the captain, is the leading goalscorer with 16 and the former national Under-17 captain is expected to get good support from other former national youth representatives such as Cordel Benbow, Oshane Boothe, Martin Davis and Amoy Brown, as well as Shevon Stewart and Gregory Messam.
"He (Ryan Miller) is a very talented player who came in from the Under-14 level. He plays anywhere. However, his style of leaving the 'hole' at times can hurt us," Bell shared.
Meanwhile, Excelsior's head coach, Lebert Halliman, thinks the odds are against his team.
"We will be playing three games in seven days and two of them are at 1 p.m., which is very taxing on my team, compared to our opponents, who played just one game in seven days," Halliman told The Gleaner yesterday.
Overwhelming favourites
"It will affect my team as St George's is a quality team and so they are overwhelming favourites going into the semi-finals. However, we are going to give it our best shot. We have to score our chances and hope that they will have an off day," the veteran schoolboy coach shared.
For victory Excelsior will rely mainly on key player Kareem Banton, Romaine Hosang and captain Hishrock Francis.
In the second game, another interesting duel is expected. Charlie Smith is the only team in the Walker Cup semis that is not in the Manning Cup last four, so they will come highly motivated to win the game against the champions.
Charlie Smith, coached by Jerome Waite, have goalkeeper Leon Taylor, Odane Samuels, Bebeto McDonald, Kimani Arbouine and Shaquille Dyer as their main players.
The Ludlow Bernard-coached Wolmer's are unbeaten in both the Manning and Walker Cup competitions so far, and will be determined to continue their unbeaten run. They have a potent attacking force that includes Jaheel Hyde, Jordan James, Khori Bennett and Demar Rose.
The winners of each semi-final will advance to the final, which is tentatively set for November 27 at a venue to be decided by ISSA.