Defending champions kick-start schoolboy football season
Published:Saturday | September 6, 2025 | 12:10 AMGregory Bryce/Staff Reporter
Defending daCosta Cup champions Garvey Maceo High and last year’s Manning Cup champions, Kingston College (KC), will begin their respective schoolboy football title defences today in a double header at Stadium East.
Garvey Maceo will open the afternoon of football when they take the field against Foga Road High at 2:30 p.m. before KC take on Charlie Smith in the second game at 5 p.m.
Garvey Maceo, who won their third daCosta Cup title last season, will be hoping they can defend their crown this time around.
The Clarendon-based school had lifted the title for the first time in 2007, but had to wait 14 years for their second daCosta Cup title in 2021.
They claimed their third last season, following a dramatic 5-3 penalty shoot-out win over McGrath High.
Speaking ahead of the season’s start, Garvey Maceo’s coach Lester Hibbert said his charges are ready to prove their quality as reigning champions.
“This is where we have to show the people of Jamaica that Garvey Maceo are here to play some brilliant football this season, and to retain our title,’ he said.
With the two schools just over 10 kilometres apart, Hibbert said this match also brings the added importance of bragging rights against a close rival.
“We told the boys that it’s step by step and game by game. It’s a rivalry against Foga Road, as we’re closely linked. We’re prepared for that game,” he said.
“For that game, as champions, you have to be mentally prepared, physically prepared, and we have been putting the boys through the process and getting them ready for a game like this.”
For Foga Road, the team will be looking to improve on their performance from last season where they had finished fifth in the first round, managing just three wins across all games played.
The last time the two teams met, Garvey Maceo ran out 4-0 victors.
PURPLE PRIDE
Hailing from North Street, KC will be looking to mark their title defence campaign with a statement win against Charlie Smith.
Led by veteran coach Vassell Reynolds, KC are confident they can successfully defend their crown.
They had claimed the Manning Cup title last season after downing final debutants St Catherine High 3-1.
Speaking with The Gleaner during his pre-season preparations, Reynolds stated the pressure of representing KC comes with the expectation of chasing accolades.
“At Kingston College, the expectations have always been high. It takes on a new meaning this year because of the fact that we’re the defending champions and, as a result, the expectations will be a little bit higher,” Reynolds said.
For Charlie Smith, the goal will be to better their performance after a disappointing run saw them eliminated at the first round.
In fact, it is the second year straight that the school had failed to advance past the first round, a trend they will hope to shake this time around.