Garvey Maceo looking to extend perfect run

Merron Gordon, coach of Garvey Maceo High School, says that winning today's final game of the first round of the ISSA/WATA daCosta Cup against visitors Winston Jones High School and extending their perfect run are crucial to securing a top-four seeding for the second round.

"Definitely, but at the same time, we have to manage our players. We want to win the game, but managing the boys is more important to me for tomorrow (today)," said Gordon.

"It means a whole lot as we want to finish high up the rank. At present, I think we are in fourth and could be in third if we should win and STETHS draw or lose their game against Lacovia. It's important because you want to try your best to avoid the so-called bigger teams in the Interzone round (quarter-finals). With 32 teams leaving the first round, you can't take anyone or game lightly," he added.

Despite reaching the quarter-finals of the competition last year, Garvey Maceo had a tough time getting the ball into the back of the net with just 17 goals from 15 games. However, so far this season, they have netted 32 goals in their nine games.

Gordon is on course to enter the second round with a perfect win record that included defeating his alma mater and three-time champions Glenmuir High School twice. When asked what the secret behind their success is this year, the newly appointed coach noted that he is not doing anything extraordinary and had not done much recruiting.

"Probably it's the new-coach syndrome, I don't know. I just see myself as a person who stands for discipline on and off the field. That is what I am pushing and I think it's giving us the results," said Gordon.

"We didn't really bring in a lot of players - only three main players that I brought in, one I brought with me from Lennon, one from Central, and one from Denbigh. The core of the team is from Garvey (Maceo), who have been playing together for years. We don't have a star player, but we work hard together as a team and get some team results," he added.

Over in Zone J, host Brimmervale and St Mary Tech. who are both locked on 17 points, will go head-to-head for a chance to qualify for the next round. Also in a similar position in Zone G with 15 points each are Alston, who will be hosting Spalding.

Over in Zone I, York Castle and Oracabessa, who are also locked on 16 points, will battle for a spot to the next round while Ocho Rios (16) host leaders Browns Town (18).

 

Today's ISSA/WATA daCosta Cup fixtures:

 

- Anchovy v Irwin

- St James v Green Pond

- Merlene Ottey v Frome

- Green Island v Cambridge

- Herbert Morrison v Muschett

- Manning's v Petersfield

- STETHS v Lacovia

- Sydney Pagon v Newell

- Maggotty v Munro College

- Belair High v May Day

- Mile Gully v B.B. Coke

- DeCarteret College v Manchester

- Troy High v Christiana

- Alston v Spalding

- Holmwood v Knox College

- Clarendon College v Thompson Town

- Edwin Allen v Kellits High

- Ocho Rios v Browns Town

- Iona High v Marcus Garvey

- York Castle v Oracabessa

- Brimmervale v St Mary High

- Carron Hall High v Tacky

- Guys Hill v St Mary Tech

- Charlemont v McGrath

- Tacius Golding v Enid Bennett

- Ewarton v Dinthill

- Horace Clarke v Happy Grove

- Titchfield v Fair Prospect

- Glenmuir v Cross Keys

- Bellefield v Denbigh

- Garvey Maceo v Winston Jones

- Vere Tech v Porus

- Old Harbour v Kemps Hill

- Morant Bay v St. Thomas Tech

- Yallahs v Robert Lightbourne

- Seaforth v Paul Bogle

- Cornwall College v Maldon