Clarendon kingpins hunt daCosta Cup
Published:Saturday | December 9, 2023 | 12:11 AMOrane Buchanan/Staff Reporter
DEFENDING ISSA/daCosta Cup champions Clarendon College will put their title on the line today when they meet parish rivals Glenmuir High in what is expected to be a hotly contested battle with match time set for 6 p.m. at the National Stadium.
Three-time daCosta Cup champions Glenmuir will enter today’s match with the psychological advantage after their Champions Cup victory over Clarendon College last week. Head coach Andrew Peart said yesterday that based on his team’s preparation the boys are in good stead to give a good account of themselves.
“The confidence level is the same like the previous game as I believe the preparation was really good. The boys are in the frame of mind to execute so it just about turning up on the day and play what’s in front of us,” he said.
TOTAL DIFFERENT TEST
Peart also added that while last weekend’s victory came on the back of solid performance it only showed that anything is possible and is cognisant of the fact that today’s encounter brings a totally different test.
“It’s a new game between two quality teams and you have to play in the moment that’s in front of you,” Peart added. Glenmuir won their first daCosta Cup title in 2004 and their last in 2012.
Lenworth Hyde, head coach of Clarendon College, stated that despite last weekend’s 3-2 defeat in the final of the Champions Cup, there are positives that the team can take heading into today’s daCosta Cup final.
“We showed the never-say-die attitude and that is what you need in a final,” the former Clarendon College 1970s’ star midfielder said.
“We tried our best, but we just have to rebound and come again. It’s very important that we put that behind us, it has already happened and we can’t do anything about that. What’s coming is the most important one,” coach Hyde explained.
Clarendon College, who have won the title 10 times, have a team littered with influential players, such as Kaheim Dixon, Christopher Hull and Theon Cupee. They will, however, be without the services of central defender Nahson Bolt-Barrett, who received a red card in the final of the Champions Cup. However, Hyde stated that while he will be missed there’s no reason for panic.
“He will be missed, but we have a suitable replacement who is very competent and I have confidence in him, the entire team is just upbeat and ready,” Hyde said.