Howard Walker, Staff Reporter

Andre Clennon, of Bridgeport High (left) and James Thomas, of Glenmuir High (right), pose with their MVP trophies at the awards ceremony for the Manning and daCosta cups at Terra Nova Hotel, on Wednesday. With the boys are Leesa Kow (second left), acting executive officer - marketing, promotion and sales, at Jamaica National, and ISSA president, Clement Radcliffe. - Photo by Joyce Fletcher

BRIDGEPORT HIGH'S Andre Clennon and James Thomas of Glenmuir High were crowned Most Valuable Players (MVP) of the schoolboy season, on Wednesday, at the awards ceremony, at Terra Nova Hotel.

Clennon and Thomas walked away with $50,000 each, along with their trophies, after leading their schools to the Manning and daCosta Cup titles.

Thomas, who scored 18 goals, told The Gleaner that he was just proud to have won such an award.

"I am really happy to be the MVP knowing that inside I did a lot of work and I am very proud. It has been a very good experience for me," Thomas said.

Clennon also won the Manning Cup Golden Boot for most goals scored in the second round with four.

Garvey Maceo's Ashton Bennett also captured two awards for the most goals scored in the daCosta Cup with 23 and the Golden Boot with 11.

Eltham High's Tremaine Stewart, with 13 goals, won the award for the most goals scored throughout the Manning Cup competition.

Manning Cup champions Bridge-port and daCosta Cup winners Glenmuir received $175,000 each and an additional $90,000 each for sharing the Olivier Shield.

Runners-up Excelsior High and Frome Technical pocketed $75,000 each while Calabar were adjudged the Most Disciplined Team with 170 points ahead of Glenmuir (165) and Cornwall College (164).

Andrew Reid, general manager of co-sponsor, Pepsi Jamaica Limited, said last season was a good year.

"It was an incident-free year and the tournament's biggest news was that we did not play the second leg of the Olivier Shield because of the malaria outbreak," said Reid.

Leesa Kow, Jamaica National's acting executive officer - market-ing, promotions and sales, said for football to improve at the regional and international levels there must be tangible input and she pledged that her company would be a leading player in the development of football.

"We are pleased to say that our sponsorship dollars have been well spent. The competition lived up to our expectations with intense and friendly rivalry," she said.

AWARDS

Most Valuable Player (MVP)

Manning Cup: Andre Clennon

daCosta Cup: James Thomas

Most goals scored throughout the competition

Manning Cup: Tremaine Stewart (Eltham) 13

daCosta Cup: Ashton Bennett (Garvey Maceo) 23

Golden Boot Awards - most goals scored from 2nd round

Manning Cup: Andre Clennon (Bridgeport) 4 goals

daCosta Cup: Ashton Bennett (Garvey Maceo) 11 goals

Most Attacking Team

Manning Cup: Calabar High (52 goals)

daCosta Cup: St Elizabeth (46 goals)

Most Defensive Team

Manning Cup: Jamaica College (3 goals)

daCosta Cup: Clarendon College (5 goals)

Most Disciplined Team

Calabar High (170 points)

Player of the Month Essay competition

September: James Thomas (Glenmuir)

October: Andre Anderson (Munro College)

November: Christopher Lewis (Glenmuir)

Champions

Walker Cup: Eltham High

Ben Francis: Frome Technical

Manning Cup: Bridgeport High

daCosta Cup: Glenmuir