Clarendon ‘family’ rolls through daCosta Cup with experience

The signs are already beginning to show that defending champions Clarendon College will be hard to beat in this year's ISSA/WATA daCosta Cup competition, with the Chapelton-based institution confidently going about their business as they traverse the early stages of the schoolboy football season.

The Lenworth Hyde-coached Clarendon have racked up three wins from three games after opening with a 5-0 drubbing of Lennon High followed by a 4-0 win over Kellits.

On Wednesday, Clarendon knocked over the returning Claude McKay High 8-0, and the signs are evident that the 10-time champions are on the hunt for title No. 11 in 2023.

With most of the players from last year's squad returning, the CC machine doesn't need much oiling for the new campaign, and head coach Lenworth Hyde, although not totally pleased, is contented with the standard of play from his charges.

"I like what I am seeing, but we have work to do to correct some of our mistakes, which will ensure our slate is clean for the next round," Hyde said.

Hyde admitted that having the nucleus of players from last year is a bonus, with Keheim 'Papee' Dixon, Devonti Hodges and captain Malachi Douglas leading their charge.

"We have most of our players from last year, but we are bringing in some new under-14 and under-16 players, which all goes well for the future of CC as we keep the chemistry going," he said.

That chemistry is kept in check by captain Douglas, who describes Clarendon College as a family.

"For sure, having the same players from last year is helping us a lot as we live as a family. Once we are together and stay together, our performance will show on the pitch," Douglas said.

Douglas and Dixon are already among the competition's top scorers with five and seven goals. However, the skipper is keen to keep his troops in tow, not wanting to get ahead of themselves with plenty of football remaining to play.

"We always keep a cool head, and we make sure that we are not overconfident. Having said that, we are a confident team and aim to win everything there is to win," added Douglas.

Those sentiments are also shared by Hyde when asked about title aspirations once again.

"We are looking in that direction, but we have to get it down in the training and get everybody understanding," Hyde said.

Clarendon College will go for their fourth win when they take on Thompson Town High on Saturday at Foga Road High School.