Haile Selassie-Wolmer’s rematch for Walker Cup final spot
Published:Tuesday | November 29, 2022 | 12:08 AMDaniel Wheeler/Staff Reporter
Haile Selassie High and Wolmer’s Boys’ School will meet for the second time this season, both looking to continue their unexpected runs towards silverware in their ISSA/Walker Cup semi-final this afternoon at the National Stadium at 2 p.m.
The Linval Dixon-coached Haile Selassie are making their first appearance in the Walker Cup final since 2016, searching for their first title of any kind in schoolboy football, while Wolmer’s are hoping to end a six-year wait for a trophy, their last being the Super Cup (now Champion Cup) title in 2016.
Haile Selassie’s road to the semi-final has been a just reward in the mind of Dixon as the school sat out the competition last season because of problems stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic. The first meeting between the two schools ended in a Wolmer’s victory in their final Manning Cup quarterfinal game, with both teams already eliminated from contention. Haile Selassie moved into the semi-finals by dethroning back-to-back champions St Catherine High in their quarterfinal, which took two days to complete because of external circumstances. Dixon said he expects that his team will be able to reach another gear in continuing a strong season.
“Wolmer’s Boys are a good team. I always have a lot of respect for their coach (Jerome Waite) and his programme,” Dixon said.”We are just going to get ourselves ready for the semi-final. But it is a blessing for Haile Selassie (to reach this far). It’s a privilege and a plus for them, and I think that this will take them to another level.”
It is that level that Waite is wary of, but he feels that his team has what it takes to continue a deep run this season in year one of his reign at the school.
“Haile Selassie have proven themselves. They have not only advanced out of their zone, but they have defeated a lot of teams leading up to this semi-final. I expect a good showing from them,” Waite said. “Wolmer’s had made significant improvement in four months, and nobody expected this team to go this far. So we continue in this manner. Hopefully, we can clear this hurdle and move on to the final.”
Wolmer’s last held the Walker Cup title in 2015, and Waite says that their unexpected progress this year will be a boost to the players and to the school. It has been a while since they have challenged for any title, the last being the Champions Cup in 2016. This will be a turning point while they are still developing,” Waite said.
Tivoli High and St George’s College will face off in the other semi-final at 4:15 p.m., with both teams looking to end title droughts. It has been six years since the Light Blues won the Walker Cup while Tivoli haven’t claimed silverware since their 2005 Walker Cup win.
Walker Cup semi-finals today at National Stadium
Haile Selassie High vs Wolmer’s Boys’ School - 2 p.m.
Tivoli High vs St George’s College - 4:15 p.m.