Lost opportunity? daCosta Cup suspension drains morale of student-athletes in the west

THE INDEFINITE suspension of the rural high schools daCosta Cup football competition is having a negative impact on some student-athletes in the west.

High school sports were suspended by the Inter-Secondary Schools Sports Association (ISSA) after Hurricane Melissa ravaged the island just over a week ago. Several sections of western Jamaica have become unrecognisable.

Kashaun Brown, a Manning’s School footballer, says the game plays a significant role in the lives of his teammates and mentally, they are a bit down at this time.

“For Manning’s players, the majority of us aren’t good at anything else but football. We take pride in it, love it, and it is our comfort,” said Brown, who expressed sadness over the likely cancellation of the competition.

“I know that this devastation hit Jamaica. I can just feel that it is weighing on my teammates because it is weighing on me,” Brown said but the final-year student added that “our minds are free with football”.

Before the postponement, the competition was at the round-of-16 stage with 11 playing days left, which is approximately five and a half weeks if two games are played per week, according to president of ISSA Keith Wellington.

Having only conceded three goals, Manning’s were blanked 2-0 by Dinthill Technical, giving them their first defeat this season in their opening match of the round of 16. They still have two more games to play.

“It’s kind of sad because the team was on a good track this season. The chemistry is positive and completely different from last year. We want to go far and do our best to win this year,” said Brown, who is the school’s right-back and has competed in under-14, under-16, and daCosta Cup football during his five years at the Westmoreland-based school.

Brown said the love, spirit, and momentum within the team were disrupted by the hurricane and he was still unable to communicate with some teammates because the service providers are down in his area.

The suspension of the daCosta Cup has left Cornwall College’s top-striker, Carlondo Morris, uneasy.

“It is affecting me in many ways because I have goals to accomplish. If the competition does not return, I believe all the hard work the teams have been doing to ensure fitness and quality time would have been wasted,” said Morris, who has scored 20 goals this season.

According to Morris, although he understands the problems being faced now, he is still optimistic about it (daCosta Cup) being restarted this season.

“It would be good to continue the competition so we can free our minds from the hurricane’s effects. This will be good for the teams so they can continue to shine and do their best,” Morris said, noting that it would be a good way to help with the players’ mental health.

For Glenmuir High’s scoring ace, Orane Watson, the team is disappointed but understands the situation and will use the time to reflect.

“We will take the break to build on our weaknesses,” said Watson, who is also a final-year student.

“You wait years for this moment. To get to play your last games with your teammates. It is tough when it may be taken away by something out of your control,” added Watson, who has scored 23 goals this season.

“I am trying to focus on memories that we already have and the work we have put in together. No matter what happens, I am proud of what we have done and the bond we have built,” said Watson who still believes the competition will restart soon.