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Crack Manning Cup semis on
... STATHS meet StGC, Bridgeport tackle JC by Livingston Scott Observerr staff reporter
Saturday, November 22, 2008
This season's Corporate Area Schoolboy Digicel/Pepsi Manning Cup football competition has come down to the last four, which will be contested this afternoon at the Harbour View stadium, starting at
one o'clock.
In the opening game of the double-header, St Andrew Technical (STATHS) take on St George's College at 1:00 pm, while Bridgeport go up against defending champion Jamaica College (JC) in a repeat of last season's final in the other game starting at 3:00 pm.
After 33 years without the urban area's most coveted schoolboy football prize, the Old Hope Road-based JC finally reclaimed the trophy last season.
However, they will take on a side that has been to the last three finals and are looking for their third title.
Ian Forbes, the JC team manager, anticipates a very tough encounter from the St Catherine team, but expects his team to get past their opponents and make the final.
"Bridgeport is a good team and for them to reach this stage of the competition they must have been playing some good football.
".... We don't know much about them.. so we're just ensuring that we are prepared for any eventuality and deal with anything they have to offer," Forbes said.
He said the mood in the JC camp was upbeat and they are confident of getting past this hurdle.
"The boys have been well prepared by Coach (Alfred) Henry and they play as a team so we expect a good result... but it will come down to which team wants it the most," he added.
Bridgeport's coach, Anthony Patrick, predicts that this match will be a good game of football.
"It will be a very tactical and a tough game but once we play well and create the chances then we should not have any problems," he stated.
"They (JC) have a good attacking force and we will try to nullify their attackers as much as possible and utilise the space at the back and hopefully the upfront players can get the job done for us," Patrick added.
He noted that his team has continued to improve over the course of the season and they are hoping that everything goes right this afternoon.
"We are doing well at the back and geting some goals upfront, plus the midfield is playing well at this moment, so hopefully, we can get everything to together come...," he added.
Bridgeport will be without infuential captain and midfielder Andre Steele who is away in Aruba with the national Under-20 team.
Patrick said although his captain will be sorely missed this will not be a problem.
"We played the last game without him and got three goal... we also played a lot of preseason games without him and did very well. Now we are again without him (but) we don't see this as a problem... once our finishing is good that will make all the difference," he added.
JC will also be without the inspirational Ashani Walker, who is out injured. However, they will look to DeAndre Brown, Saeed Robinson, Adrian Christian, George Smart, Andre Messam and Kemar Douglas for a win.
Bridgeport's hopes, on the other hand, will rest on Darren Mattock, Adoah Nickle, Damarley Oliver, Jamal Hardware and Shamari Shaw.
In the curtain-raiser, STATHS and St George's will start on a even footing despite being contrasting teams.
More..http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/sport..._SEMIS_ON_.asp
... STATHS meet StGC, Bridgeport tackle JC by Livingston Scott Observerr staff reporter
Saturday, November 22, 2008
This season's Corporate Area Schoolboy Digicel/Pepsi Manning Cup football competition has come down to the last four, which will be contested this afternoon at the Harbour View stadium, starting at
one o'clock.
In the opening game of the double-header, St Andrew Technical (STATHS) take on St George's College at 1:00 pm, while Bridgeport go up against defending champion Jamaica College (JC) in a repeat of last season's final in the other game starting at 3:00 pm.
After 33 years without the urban area's most coveted schoolboy football prize, the Old Hope Road-based JC finally reclaimed the trophy last season.
However, they will take on a side that has been to the last three finals and are looking for their third title.
Ian Forbes, the JC team manager, anticipates a very tough encounter from the St Catherine team, but expects his team to get past their opponents and make the final.
"Bridgeport is a good team and for them to reach this stage of the competition they must have been playing some good football.
".... We don't know much about them.. so we're just ensuring that we are prepared for any eventuality and deal with anything they have to offer," Forbes said.
He said the mood in the JC camp was upbeat and they are confident of getting past this hurdle.
"The boys have been well prepared by Coach (Alfred) Henry and they play as a team so we expect a good result... but it will come down to which team wants it the most," he added.
Bridgeport's coach, Anthony Patrick, predicts that this match will be a good game of football.
"It will be a very tactical and a tough game but once we play well and create the chances then we should not have any problems," he stated.
"They (JC) have a good attacking force and we will try to nullify their attackers as much as possible and utilise the space at the back and hopefully the upfront players can get the job done for us," Patrick added.
He noted that his team has continued to improve over the course of the season and they are hoping that everything goes right this afternoon.
"We are doing well at the back and geting some goals upfront, plus the midfield is playing well at this moment, so hopefully, we can get everything to together come...," he added.
Bridgeport will be without infuential captain and midfielder Andre Steele who is away in Aruba with the national Under-20 team.
Patrick said although his captain will be sorely missed this will not be a problem.
"We played the last game without him and got three goal... we also played a lot of preseason games without him and did very well. Now we are again without him (but) we don't see this as a problem... once our finishing is good that will make all the difference," he added.
JC will also be without the inspirational Ashani Walker, who is out injured. However, they will look to DeAndre Brown, Saeed Robinson, Adrian Christian, George Smart, Andre Messam and Kemar Douglas for a win.
Bridgeport's hopes, on the other hand, will rest on Darren Mattock, Adoah Nickle, Damarley Oliver, Jamal Hardware and Shamari Shaw.
In the curtain-raiser, STATHS and St George's will start on a even footing despite being contrasting teams.
More..http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/sport..._SEMIS_ON_.asp
