Heating up

Noelita Lawrence

• ISSA/WATA da’Costa Cup Preview

   

The usual intense race for Inter Zone spots to the ISSA/WATA da’Costa Cup Football Competition heats up this weekend (Saturday, September, 29) with at least five western teams, including the defending champions Rusea’s and two former winners well-positioned.

Twelve-times winners Cornwall College, along with STETHS, who have lifted the trophy five times, Cedric Titus and Petersfield, are among the western battlers all seated at the top of their zones.

CC and Rusea’s will also be defending a winning stretch of six games.

The Dr. Dean Weatherly-coached CC, pace-setters of Zone ‘A’  where they have not lost a game in more than five years, will be on the road for only the third time this season and should collect another three points when they line up against last-placed Irwin.

A winner with the team back in 2016, the speedy Aiden Jokomba, who leads the team’s attacking frontline, will be aiming to add to his five goals tallied already, as will captain Shavon McDonald, who has struck four times.

Also, St. James High, who snapped a two-game losing skid, will look for a second straight in their clash away to Anchovy. Green Pond, blowing hot and cold, play at home to Maldon.

In-form Rusea’s also have a winning streak to protect when they challenge second-from-bottom Cambridge, and Green Island hope to return to winning ways when they challenge Merlene Ottey.

The Rusea’s team has 15 points going into the match, six clear of joint second place Frome and Green Island (9) each.

STELLAR CLASH

A gigantic match-up is set up for Zone ‘C’, where the top two, Cedric Titus and ‘Compre’, come face-to-face with each other at Bogue in what promises to be a titanic affair.

When the two met in the first round, ‘Compre’ carved out the chances but in the end slipped to a 1-0 defeat and will be looking to avenge that result. The team is also on a high having marked off four straight wins.

‘Compre’ have rushed to the top and with confidence oozing, the in-form side, who last lifted the crown back in 1986, will be taking dead aim at a fifth straight win and sole leadership of the zone.

Petersfield is down to entertain Belmont and Manning’s meet Little London, both in Zone ‘D’, while STETHS take a charge at another victoiry in a battle with Maggotty and Munro College, fresh off their first win, hunt back-to-back three points in their game against Sydeny Pagon.

Newell and Lacovia challenge each other all in Zone ‘E’.

29 other matches will also be played including Garvey Maceo against Glenmuir in Zone ‘M’ after a seventh straight win.