St George’s dominate Digicel Manning Cup XI
Beaten finalists st George’s College (stgc) dominated the Digicel Manning Cup all star Xi with six players, while only Captain Casseam priestly of champions Kingston College (KC) made the cut.
In what must be the biggest surprise, National Under-20 goalkeeper Jeadine White of St Andrew Technical High School (STATHS) was omitted and his place taken by Orville Smikle of St George’s College.
The other five Georgians in the team are centre back Jordan Petrekin, left back Emilio Rouseau, captain and central midfielder Chevan Denton and forwards Damani Harris and Chantamoi Taylor.
Dethroned champion Jamaica College (JC) gained two selections in forward Norman Campbell and right back Richard Thompson with the attacking midfield role going to Phillon Lawrence of Holy Trinity High. Camperdown High’s Giovanni Laing also made the cut at centre back.
KC’S Priestly was selected as the other central midfielder in a team endorsed by Ricardo Fuller, Digicel Manning Cup football ambassador, and based on data gathered from Sportsmax.
Data, Fuller explained, is how top leagues around the world select all-star team’s or a competition’s best, and not necessarily by watching the players physically.
“You know how the data works — distance covered, crosses, goal scored, interceptions, defensive tackle won, so forth — so I am happy with it,” he added.
Fuller’s suggestion on the formation is a 4-2-3-1, which is believed to be a flexible one and can break down into other formations if the players understand their roles.
Fuller, who was named Digicel Schoolboy Football Ambassador at the start of the season, also conducts leadership and mentorship clinics for the players and he thought it was a resounding success.
“I think it was a massive success when you look at not only the performances, but the discipline which has improved from when I was playing,” said Fuller, who played for Camperdown High in the 1990s.
He continued: “And what about the final? You could never sit in your seat for two seconds. What about the last five minutes? This showed what a derby final can be like and it never disappoints. We never dreamt of that ending”. 1. Orville Smikle (GK) St George’s
2. Richard Thompson (RB) JC 3. Giovanni Laing (CB) Camperdown
4. Jordan Petrekin (CB) STGC 5. Emelio Rousseau (LB) STGC 6. Casseam Priestly (CM) KC 7. Cheva Denton (CM) STGC 8. Phillon Lawrence (AM) Holy Trinity
9. Damani Harris (LF) STGC
10. Norman Campbell (RF) JC 11. Chantamoi Taylor (CF) STGC 1. Jeadine White (GK) STATHS) 2. Hesron Barry (CB) JC 3. Clayon Haynes (CB) Wolmer’s
4. Emelio Rousseau (LB) STGC 5. Jamal Pusey (RB) KC 6. Cheva Denton (CM) STGC 7. Phillon Lawrence (AM) Holy Trinity
8. Rohan Beadle (CM) Excelsior 9. Norman Campbell (LF) JC
10. Trayvone Reid (RF) KC
11. Marcovich Brown (CF) St Catherine