Final four!
Holy Trinity, JC, KC, Wolmer’s clash in Manning Cup semis today
FIRST-TIME ISSA/FLOW Manning Cup semi-finalist Holy Trinity may not be able to claim any of the 51 titles shared between the other final four teams, but if the words of their coach Devon Anderson are anything to go by, then they are certainly not approaching tomorrow’s semis with any concerns about their less celebrated history in the competition.
Holy Trinity join Jamaica College (JC) – their opponents for today’s 4 p.m. kick-off at the National Stadium, as well as Super Cup champions Wolmer’s and Kingston College (KC), who go against each other for the third time this season at 6 p.m. at the same venue – each with one eye on the November 26 final.
Both teams have a combined 24 titles to their credit, with KC 14, and Wolmer’s 10.
Twenty-seven time champions JC haven’t broken much of a sweat in their title defence so far this season, with an unbeaten run to the semis. Their only loss was to Clarendon College in the FLOW Super Cup, but team manager Ian Forbes made it clear that they will not be underestimating the less-fancied Holy Trinity team.
“JC are always motivated to win,” Forbes said. “It is a very serious mindset for our team, and we will be expecting a very tough game against a serious opposition.”
“We are certainly eyeing the final, but it’s one game at a time, and the game plan is to win,” Forbes underlined.
Anderson led Holy Trinity to the Super Cup final in 2014 when they lost to today’s opponents. He knows JC are favourites, but is not phased by the challenge.
“I don’t consider ourselves underdogs, we are the lesserfancied team,” said Anderson said.
“They are the defending champion, but we are going there to play a hard-nosed game,” he assured. “(There is) No pressure on us, the pressure is on them. We are not happy with being in the semi-finals, our aim is to win the Manning Cup.”
NO TROPHY SINCE 1986
While 10-time champions Wolmer’s have been to the Manning Cup finals as recently as 2013, KC have not seen a trophy match since their last triumph in 1986.
Wolmer’s coach Vassell Reynold, who won his first major title in the FLOW Super Cup last weekend, is looking forward to the contest.
“We will be at full strength, the confidence and motivation would have been lifted in winning the Flow Super Cup, but we recognise that we need to remain focused and committed for what would be a very difficult KC challenge,” said Reynolds.
Meanwhile, manager for 14time winner Kingston College, Derrick Banks said they are fully expecting to win today’s showdown.
“We expect to win the game, as we are very confident through-out the season. We set a goal and a part of that is to win the Manning Cup,” he explained.