Kemps Hill’s dream run: Can the surprise team go all the way?

WHEN the top four rural schools contest the ISSA daCosta Cup football semi-finals tomorrow there will be one surprise team — Kemps Hill High.

The Clarendon-based school has been punching well above its weight throughout the competition and has a deserved place in the last four. After creating history by advancing to the quarter-finals for the first time, they went further by booking a semi-final spot and are now on the cusp of making more history by reaching the final when they face former champions St Elizabeth Technical at Stadium East in Kingston.

Drawn in the so-called ‘Group of Death’ in the preliminary round, Kemps Hill finished third to advance to the second round. It was there that their giant-killing act began, as they stunned favourites and former champions Glenmuir High 1-0 at home. Several days later, they proved that win was no fluke by edging defending champions Garvey Maceo by the same margin. They then blanked Frome Technical 2-0 in the round of 32 to become the last team to book a spot in the round of 16.

In the round of 16, Kemps Hill lost their opening match 0-2 to Cornwall College but bounced back for two wins to book their spot in the quarter-finals.

in a highly controversial encounter in their opening game of the quarter-final round against St Elizabeth Technical, the match saw two key players, including influential goalkeeper and captain Omario Chambers, being given marching orders. However, they responded brilliantly in their next two matches, defeating Old Harbour High and Ocho Rios High.

Just like the round of 16, they lost their first quarter-final game, going down 2-3 to Glenmuir, before rebounding with victories over Cornwall College and last year’s beaten finalists McGrath High to secure a place in the top four.

Head coach Kiegon Mitchell, who is in his second year at the helm, is overjoyed with the team’s progress.

“I am elated, and the entire family — including people in the community of Race Course — are happy about the achievement. Many people from the community were out to greet the team when we arrived home on Saturday night after the win over McGrath,” said Mitchell.

“I was always confident this team would go deep in the competition despite the many naysayers. I have worked with the majority of these boys since they were 13 and 14 years old, as I was the under-14 coach,” said the 32-year-old Mitchell, a graduate of the G.C. Foster College of Physical Education and Sports.

“I took over the daCosta Cup team two years ago after the former head coach left. These boys are no strangers to me, and knowing their strengths and weaknesses made my job much easier,” he added.

With his team losing most of their opening matches in the knockout rounds, Mitchell believes they thrive under pressure.

“These boys play their best under pressure. When they are too relaxed, they tend to take things for granted. So, being down in our first games didn’t worry me, because I knew they would always rise to the occasion,” he said.

Despite being beaten by St Elizabeth Technical earlier in the competition, Mitchell has no fear ahead of the semi-final clash.

“We will now be playing at a neutral venue, and I am extremely confident of victory. Despite playing in Kingston for the first time these boys are ready, and once they bring their A-game they will be unstoppable.”

Led by goalkeeper Chambers — one of, if not the best in the competition — along with tricky midfielder Shemar Daley, Junior Robinson, defenders Robert Beckford and midfielder Robert Donaldson, Kemps Hill could be on the verge of another historic moment. Mitchell has urged fans to come out in their numbers.

“Come out with your horns and whistles because we are going to make you all proud,” Mitchell.