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Fierce battle expected in Excelsior, St Jago contest
September 30, 2025
A fiercely contested encounter is expected when host Excelsior High School entertain St Jago High in this afternoon's top-of-the-table clash in Zone A of the ISSA/WATA Manning Cup football competition at Courtney Walsh Oval. Match time is 3: p.m.
Both teams, who have been playing well this season, will put their unbeaten records on the line in today's massive showdown. St Jago lead the zone with 15 points, three ahead of Excelsior, who have a game in hand.
They are followed by Hydel and St George's College on nine points each, Jonathan Grant and Holy Trinity with six apiece, and Bridgeport and Gaynstead, who are on zero.
The Spanish Town-based St Jago will enter today's clash full of confidence, having scored 19 goals while yet to concede any. Excelsior will also be feeling confident of victory, having scored 24 goals while conceding just one.
UPBEAT
Keon Broderick, head coach of Excelsior High, who were beaten by Mona High in last year's final of the Walker Cup Knockout competition, said his team is feeling quite upbeat going into today's contest.
"We are feeling pretty confident in our abilities and what we are capable of doing on any given day, so we are feeling confident going into this game," he said.
"It should be very exciting because the statistics and the data by both teams would have shown that we are both unbeaten teams so we are expecting a good game.
"We have been playing in the sense that we would have gotten the results that we want from our previous games and I believe that as the season progresses that we will get a lot better in different areas in this competition," Broderick stated.
Excelsior High reached the Manning Cup quarter-finals last year and Broderick says they are even more determined now to surpass that effort.
"The sky's is the limit for us because we don't normally put a limit on ourselves because this programme is far bigger than just football. We are working both on and off the field for the boys to reach their full potential," he said.
EXPECTATIONS
Assistant coach of St Jago, Marcello Douglas, said he is expecting a tough encounter today but is confident that his side can come away with a positive result.
"This is going to be tough game for sure because they are the best team in the group, so we are looking forward to the challenge and we will see how best we can go out there and get three points, or at least a point from the game," he said.
"My boys will be up for the challenge and they are in high spirits coming off five games and five wins. They are still remaining humble and we will see what this game brings," Douglas added.
St Jago will rest their hopes in the hands of captain Jordan Taylor, along with Orlando Smith and Ricardo Lewis.
INTRIGUING ENCOUNTER
Meanwhile, another intriguing encounter is expected in Zone D when the surprise leaders, unbeaten Vauxhall High, play away to former champions St Andrew Technical High School (STATHS). Vauxhall, who are coached by Kyle Butler, son of Mona's head coach Craig, lead the zone with maximum 15 points from five games.
They are followed by Jamaica College and STATHS, who are both on 13 points. Camperdown (six), Spanish Town (two), St Mary's College and Greater Portmore (one each), and Edith Dalton James on zero complete the zone.
