Tivoli, Dunoon hunt first win in the ISSA/Pepsi/Digicel Manning Cup urban area senior schoolboy football competition

Two-time champions and last year’s quarter-finalists, Tivoli Gardens Comprehensive High, will be seeking their first win of this season’s Inter-Secondary Schools Sports Association (ISSA)/Pepsi/ Digicel Manning Cup urban area senior schoolboy football competition when they host Dunoon Technical today at 3:30 p.m.

The Dave Clarke-coached team played to a two-all draw in their opening encounter against Jose Marti Technical. They then held last year’s beaten finalists Bridgeport to a one-all scoreline. Tivoli last won the competition in 1999 to go along with their 1976 triumph.

Clarke, who played on the 1976 champion team, concedes that they have got off to a slow start, but he is looking to use today’s game to jump-start their campaign.

Easier game

“I am expecting this game tomorrow (today) to be a little easier than the ones we have played,” said Clarke. “Hopefully, we will win the game and win the game with some comfort, so the confidence can get back into the team.

“We have to take into consideration that Dunoon were beaten 3-0 by Jose Marti, a team that we drew with. So the impression is that Dunoon is a much weaker team. If in fact it is a weaker team and we can make full use of the weakness in the team, it will help us in the long run. We need three points and we are going for three points,” he added.

Clarke, who also harbours thoughts of his team doing better than last year, is looking for them to improve in one key area.

“Off-the-ball running is the main concern. The players tend to be sitting back and waiting for something to happen. There is no one on the field up to the two games that I have seen so far, who has decided that he is going to take it in his hands, which boils down to leadership. So that was discussed yesterday (Tuesday) and I am hoping that having discussed it, we will see some improvements.”

Dunoon, whose only hold on the urban area crown came in 1998, have yet to secure a point this season. They lost their opening game 1-0 to Vauxhall High before going down 3-0 to Jose Marti.

However, their coach, Winston Thomas, has his sights set on victory in today’s game as he believes his team performs better on the road.

“We are planning to play for a victory,” said Thomas. It is a young bunch of players, they are learning but they have gotten a chance to realise what is Manning Cup. They should play much better tomorrow and we are definitely going for a win.

“We definitely play better when we are away from home. All of our practice matches that we have played away from home so far, we have won,” he added.

Today’s games

Group B: Tivoli vs Dunoon Technical, Jose Marti vs Ascot

Group D: Mona vs STATHS, Norman Manley vs Pembroke Hall, Penwood vs Holy Trinity

Group F: St Catherine vs Kingston College, Tarrant vs Jonathan Grant, Campion vs Hydel

Source:Jamaicagleaner

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