A match for schoolboy football Supremacy - CC, JC in showdown for Olivier Shield

by

Daniel Wheeler - STAR Writer

December 06, 2019

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Clarendon College’s Taja Brown hoists the Olivier Shield after his team beat Kingston College in the 2018.

Hyde

Ferguson

Nickari Campbell (left) of Jamaica College tries to get by Christopher Matthews of Wolmer’s Boys School in a ISSA/Digicel Manning Cup game at Stadium East on Monday, September 16, 2019.

Tahjay Williams of Clarendon College (left) celebrates after scoring his school’s third versus Cornwall College in their ISSA Champions cup semi-final matchup at the National Stadium on November 16, 2019.

The final piece of silverware for the 2019 schoolboy football season will be handed out tomorrow as Jamaica College (JC) face Clarendon College (CC) in the Olivier Shield Final at the National Stadium at 5 p.m. Both teams are looking to finish their schoolboy campaigns with two trophies as they prepare to the defend the pride of their respective regions.

Defending champions Clarendon College retained the daCosta Cup title by beating Dinthill Technical High School 3-0 last Saturday, winning back-to-back titles for the third time. CC’s first rural vs urban battle ended in disappointment when they lost the ISSA Champions Cup final to Kingston College. Hyde says that the defeat has left them more motivated on ensuring that the all-island title remains in rural Jamaica.

“We want to redeem ourselves. How are you going to be the best team in the schoolboy season for 2019 and you don’t win the Olivier Shield?” Hyde asked. “We want to win it and cement our place as the best team for this year.”

Clarendon College won the trophy last year defeating last year’s Manning Cup champions KC in the final, thanks to a late blast from substitute Andre Nicholson. The last time the Olivier Shield crown stayed in rural Jamaica for two consecutive seasons was in 2000 and 2001 when Cornwall College and Rusea’s High won, respectively.

Meanwhile, the Davion Ferguson-coached Jamaica College are seeking to win the Manning Cup/Olivier Shield double for the first time since 2017. The Old Hope Road-based school won their 27th Manning Cup title last Friday defeating St Andrew Technical High (STATHS) 5-4 on penalties, after both teams drew 1-1 in regulation. After equalling Miguel Coley’s feat of winning the Manning Cup title in his debut season, Ferguson now has the chance to win the double on his first try. The ‘Dark Blues’ five-year period of dominance between 2013-2017 included both the Manning and Olivier Shield doubles and he says that the team is fuelled with the desire for more silverware.

“Success is something that really forces you to get more success. So definitely it’s something that we are aiming at,” he said.

Ferguson says that Clarendon College will be a tall order for his charges but they will be prepared for challenge.

“It won’t be an easy game. Quality team, quality coach but we are ready for it,” he said.