Mona, KC go for top spot in Group A
Published:Saturday | November 12, 2022 | 12:08 AMDaniel Wheeler/Staff Reporter
Their ISSA/Digicel Manning Cup semifinal berths are already set in stone but it will not make the final quarterfinal round match-up between defending champions Kingston College and Mona High any less important.
The two schools will face each other this afternoon at 3 o’clock at Stadium East to determine the winners of Group A after clinching their places in the last four of the Manning Cup. Kingston College soared past Charlie Smith 5-0 in their second quarterfinal game on Wednesday while Mona created history, making their first Manning Cup semifinal appearance after defeating many-time champions St George’s College 1-0 in their second quarterfinal game.
The Raymond Watson-coached Kingston College have not missed a step in their quarterfinal campaign, scoring nine goals from two games including their 4-1 win over their North Street rivals St George’s College. Although pleased with the team’s progress at the business end of the season, assistant coach Jermaine Miller said that it has not lessened the expectation or intensity for their clash with Mona.
“We are pleased as a group. The objective is to take each game as it comes and that is what we have been doing. But every time we play, we go to get three points and that is what we are going for the next game,” Miller said on Wednesday.
Mona will enjoy the feeling of being in unfamiliar territory, in the deepest schoolboy football run in their history, with the added benefit of competing in the Champions Cup. They will have head coach Craig Butler back on the sidelines after serving his one-match suspension for being red-carded in their opening win over Charlie Smith. However, assistant coach Winston Taylor said has emphasised the importance of finishing top of their group.
“We have it all to play for because top spot is the objective. When you get to spot you get to play second place in the next section, so to avoid Jamaica College in the semifinal is an objective of ours,” Taylor said.
Mona are the only team in the Manning Cup with a 100 per cent win record this season.
Meanwhile, St George’s College and Charlie Smith will face each other at the same time at Jamaica College as quarterfinal play wraps up their participation in the Manning Cup for this season. The meeting will still have some importance as it will determine their opponents for the quarterfinal round of the ISSA/Walker Cup which begins next week.
Today’s Games
Kingston College vs Mona High @ Stadium East at 3:00 p.m.
St George’s College vs Charlie Smith @ Jamaica College at 3:00 p.m.