Charlemont have D'Cup title quality – Israel

Michael Israel, coach of ISSA/WATA daCosta Cup dark horses Charlemont High School, says he knows they have the quality to secure all three points in their crucial Zone K road trip to last season's semi-finalist Dinthill Technical High School today at 3:30 p.m.

Charlemont, who are tied on 19 points with Dinthill, are second in the zone as their counterparts have a superior goal difference of 36 compared to their 14. With both teams already qualified, Israel is looking to top the group for a good seeding for the second round.

"We will be trying to make tomorrow's (today's) game very open and exciting because we will be going down to Dinthill, so we won't have the home advantage. We will have to adjust to the environment and situation and play to our best because we know Dinthill have been a good team over the years," said Israel.

"In the last match, there was a bit of nerve from the boys because of the intensity of the situation. The community was on them with the field being so close to the spectators. The spectators were about five metres from the field, and that was very hostile. At Dinthill, they (Charlemont players) will have more freedom to play so, hopefully, they come out and play ..."

Dark horse tag

Israel said that he has no choice but to accept the dark horse tag that they were labelled with at the start of the competition. He believes it will, however, take application to pull off a daCosta Cup title upset as they certainly have the quality.

"I would have to accept that. We are not a school that normally do well in terms of reaching semi-finals of quarter-finals repeatedly. We started the preseason and the team was showing some good result beating former champions and the defending champions (6-0)...," said Israel.

"We have the quality to do the job (win the daCosta Cup) with the players that we have. We just have to go out there and execute," he added.

Charlemont will be banking on key players in striker Clive Wedderburn; midfielders Lajon Livingston and captain Marlon Martin; leader of the defence Shackeil Fuller; and custodian Ajaye White to come up big for them this afternoon.

Today's ISSA/WATA daCosta Cup GAmes:

- Cornwall College v St James

- Frome v Rusea's

- Merlene Ottey v Cambridge

- Hopewell v Green Island

- Spot Valley v Muschett

- Little London v Petersfield

- Knockalva v Mannings

- Munro College v STETHS

- Maggotty v Newell

- Lacovia v Sydney Pagon

- Manchester v May Day

- B.B. Coke v DeCarteret College

- Belair High v Mile Gully

- Holmwood v Christiana

- Knox College v Alston

- Spalding v Troy High

- Lennon v Kellits High

- Clarendon College v Edwin Allen

- Iona High v Oracabessa

- Marcus Garvey v Browns Town

- Brimmervale v St. Mary Tech

- Carron Hall High v Guys Hill

- St Mary High v Tacky

- Dinthill v Charlemont

- McGrath v Tacius Golding

- Ewarton v Enid Bennett

- Port Antonio v Fair Prospect

- Annotto Bay v Happy Grove

- Glenmuir v Winston Jones

- Bellefield v Garvey Maceo

- Cross Keys v Denbigh

- Porus v Central

- Kemps Hill v Vere Tech

- Robert Lightbourne v St Thomas Tech

- Morant Bay v Paul Bogle

- Yallahs v Seaforth