Clarendon ready to defend DaCosta title

With the start of this year’s ISSA/WATA DaCosta Cup competition just over two weeks away, Clarendon College coach Lenworth Hyde says his team is pumped up and ready to defend its title.

The champions are drawn in Group H, where they will play Edwin Allen High School, Kellits High School, and Lennon High School.

Hyde told STAR Sports that they have done well in their preseason preparations and everyone is anxiously awaiting the start of the season.

“We expect to continue to play some good football because we leave the results to how we perform on the field, and that is what I am instilling in the players that good football always prevails,” he said.

“We have played a lot of practice games in the preseason and we are getting it right because they are understanding how the system plays and everybody is enjoying themselves. That is what we want, good football and the results will come.

However, Clarendon College star striker last season, Nicque Daley, has left the school and is now playing for Charleston Battery in the United Soccer League in America. Therefore, the team will be heavily dependent on playmaker Lamar Walker to lead this season.

“It is hard to fill his position because we need a goalscorer and Daley scored 20 goals last season, but what we are doing is asking our midfielders to get into the 18-yard box and score goals,” Hyde said.

“We have a striker, Norlan Beckford from last year, and we are looking forward to him coming in and scoring some goals for us.”