Defending daCosta champions going about their business confidently

Already the signs are beginning to show that defending champions Clarendon College will be the team to beat in this year’s ISSA/WATA daCosta Cup competition with the Chapelton-based school confidently going about its business as they traverse the early stages of the schoolboy football season.

After three games, the Lenworth Hyde-coached team has racked up three wins following an opening 5-0 drubbing of Lennon High followed by a 4-0 win over Kellits.

Yesterday Clarendon College knocked over the returning Claude McKay High 8-0, and the signs are evident that the 10-time champions are on the hunt for title number in in 2023.

With the majority of players from last year’s squad returning, the Clarendon College machine doesn’t need much oiling for the new campaign, and head coach Hyde is content with what he has seen so far from his charges.

“I like what I am seeing, but we have work to do to correct some of our mistakes which will ensure our slate is clean for the next round.”

Hyde admitted that having the nucleus of his squad from last year is an added bonus with players the likes of Keheim ‘Papee’ Dixon, Devonti Hodges and captain Malachi Douglas leading their charge.

“We have most of our players from last year, but we are bringing in some new under-14 and under-16 players which augurs well for the future of Clarendon College as we keep the chemistry going.”

That chemistry that Hyde speaks of has always been there and captain Douglas describes the Clarendon College team as a ‘family’.

“For sure having the same players from last year is helping us a lot as we live as a family. Once we are together and stay together, our performance will show on the pitch.

Douglas and Dixon are already among the league’s top scorers with five and seven goals respectively already. However, the skipper is keen to keep his troops in check as they do not want to get ahead of themselves with lots of football still to play.

“We always keep a cool head and we make sure that we are not overconfident. Having said that, we are a confident side and our aim is to win everything there is to win,” added Douglas.

Those sentiments were shared by Hyde when asked about title aspirations once again.

“We are looking in that direction but we have to get it down in the training and get everybody understanding.”

Clarendon College will go for their fourth win of the campaign when they take on Thompson Town High on Saturday at Foga Road High School.

Yesterday’s results

Yallahs High 0 Paul Bogle High 1

Happy Grove High 7 Titchfield High 0