The ISSA Schoolboy Football Manning Cup competition has reached the exciting quarterfinal stage, with the action heating up as the top teams battle for supremacy. Group A, known as the “group of death,” has lived up to its reputation. Defending champions Mona High have been dominant, finishing the round of 16 with a perfect record—three wins from three matches, scoring 11 goals and conceding just 1. Jamaica College, with two draws and a win, also remain unbeaten, proving tough to break down; they scored 9 goals while conceding 5. Kingston College advanced despite a 1-0 loss to St. Andrew Technical High School (STATHS) in their final game, securing two victories to finish with 9 goals scored and 3 conceded. Meanwhile, Tivoli Gardens High edged out Eltham High on goal difference after a hard-fought 2-2 draw, scoring 7 goals and conceding 3.
In Group B, there is a mix of traditional powerhouses and emerging forces. Excelsior High have been in imperious form, winning all three of their group matches, scoring 10 goals and conceding just 3. St. Catherine High, former Walker Cup champions, topped Group 4 despite a 1-1 draw with Jamaica College, amassing 7 points from 3 matches with a solid defensive record of only 2 goals conceded. Campion College impressed by securing second place in Group 1 with wins over St. George’s College and St. Jago High, although they suffered a narrow 2-1 loss to Mona High. Hydel High, last season’s beaten finalists, made a remarkable recovery after an opening 6-1 loss, winning two consecutive 1-0 matches to advance to the quarterfinals.
The quarterfinals will kick off on Wednesday, November 6, promising intense competition as the best teams from each group clash for a spot in the semifinals. For all the latest updates and fixtures, visit www.schoolboyfootball.com.
