KC look to deny Garvey Maceo again in Olivier Shield play-off

The football spotlight will be on St Elizabeth Technical High School’s (STETHS) Sports Complex in Santa Cruz today when daCosta Cup champions Garvey Maceo High square off against Manning Cup winners Kingston College (KC) in what should be a thrilling play-off for the Olivier Shield. Kick-off time is 3 p.m.

The Olivier Shield was once the symbol of all-island supremacy in schoolboy football but has been overtaken in recent years by the Champions Cup. It, however, remains a very coveted trophy and an important clash between the champions of rural schoolboy football and the urban winners.

Urban kings KC won their 17th Manning Cup title when they had a commanding 3-1 victory over first-time finalists St Catherine High. Meanwhile, rural kings Garvey Maceo captured their second daCosta Cup title when they clipped first-time finalists McGrath High 5-3 on penalties after a 1-1 draw in regulation time.

KC are chasing their 10th Olivier Shield title and will be attempting to deny Garvey Maceo their first, just like they did in 2021. In that play-off, KC silenced Garvey Maceo with a 2-0 win. Vassell Reynolds, coach of Kingston College, said the aim is to have each player bring their ‘A’ game and win another title to close the season.

“We are used to the competitive nature of our opponents. Once it’s KC our opponents always bring their ‘A’ game. We are mindful of the fact that the very good Garvey Maceo team will enter the game with all guns blazing. We expect it and we are as prepared as we can for it,” Reynolds said.

He added, “I really want the boys to cap off the season in the best way possible. The best way is to win the Olivier Shield. I still feel the boys have a lot in them. What you saw in the Manning Cup final is almost close to what they have to give and we want to play better than what we did in that final.”

Seeking sweet revenge against KC, Lester Hibbert, a past student and first-year head coach of Garvey Maceo, said winning today will be massive for the school.

“This will be history for us. The matchup against KC will be excellent. They are in their 100th anniversary, so in essence, they want to win at all cost. We are drilling the boys to stay together and maintain a level of discipline and focus. It is the team that is organised and motivated that will be victorious. We know it is a good KC team but if we stick together and play good football, we can be victorious.”

Continuing, he added: “We expect a win. A win will be historic and will put the school on the map as the best schoolboy team in the country. The past students and the fans who support the team on a day-to-day basis will also be very happy.”

For today’s season finale, KC will need the likes of Damaine ‘Messi’ Smith and Jaeshawn Edwards, the 15-year-old defender, to play at their best.

The ‘Cubans’, as Garvey Maceo are affectionately called because their institution was built as a gift to the country by Jamaica’s Caribbean neighbours, will look to the heroics of Omarion O’Brian, Everald Swaby on (11 goals) and Malik Robinson with six.