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Clarendon, Mona showdown at Stadium - Rural champions face urban kingpins in Olivier Shield playoff
December 13, 2023
Defending champions and six-time Olivier Shield winners Clarendon College will look to end their season in style when they take on first-time Manning Cup winners Mona High today at the National Stadium at 5 p.m.
Clarendon College were in scintillating form last Saturday as they outclassed parish rivals Glenmuir 6-2 in the daCosta Cup final.
Despite facing an aggressive and direct Mona team, Hyde said they will play the game that has brought them success.
"I will concentrate on my team. We are defending champions and we want to defend the shield with the best of our ability.
"It will be nothing different from the last performance. We just ask them (players) to come out and give a little bit more than what we did last," he said.
Craig Butler, coach of Mona, believes his team's intense pressing game will give them the edge.
"If they keep the ball a lot, our pressing will definitely benefit us. Any team that is going to try and play 'keep-ball', will be a good opportunity to execute our style of play, and, hopefully, we will get the result we want," Butler said.
However, Hyde insists they know what to expect and will be prepared for whatever Butler and his team throw at them.
"How will he deal with our pressing game?" Hyde quizzed. "Because that is what we will do too. So he must be able to handle it.
"We are prepared for anything he will come with. We know what to expect from them. We just have to come out and give it our best shot."
Meanwhile, Butler said his team is ready to claim one of local schoolboy football's top prize.
"For glory sake, for vengeance sake. It's war," Butler stated. "We are focused. We are ready and prepared to take on the challenge. I am confident in my boys and we will just do the best we can," he said.
"That is our ambition (to be Olivier Shield winners) and that is what we set out to do. This game will decide who is the top schoolboy team in the country and we are aiming for that. We have our plans and will execute them accordingly," Butler said.
Clarendon have a host of match winners including leading scorer Kaheim Dixon, captain Malachi Douglas, Christopher Hull, Ateibo Green, Daniel Clarke, Theon Cupee and Denonti Hodges
Mona's hopes rest on goalkeeper Akeem Bernard, Alex Suazo, Romario Thomas, Robinho Gordon, Denzel McKenzie, Demarion Harris and Maquan Parchment.
