The National Stadium prepares for an epic confrontation as Jamaica College (JC) and Excelsior High face off in the ISSA Manning Cup final, determining the ultimate champion of urban schoolboy football. This championship match represents not just athletic competition but a clash of institutional legacies and aspirations.
Symbolically, the final embodies a mythological battle between JC’s Griffin—a legendary creature combining lion’s body with eagle’s head and wings—and Excelsior’s conventional eagle. While mythology might favor the hybrid beast, victory will ultimately be decided on the pitch through skill, strategy, and determination.
Jamaica College, established in 1795, stands as the tournament’s most decorated institution with 28 Manning Cup titles. Their quest for a record-extending 29th championship traces back to the competition’s 1914 inception. Historical records indicate JC’s early dominance, having secured the Sydney Olivier Inter Scholastic Challenge Trophy in 1909, 1910, and 1913 before the Manning Cup era began.
The current JC squad represents a footballing juggernaut, characterized by exceptional balance and coordination. Key players including Jabarie Howell (considered among schoolboy football’s elite), Donald Stewart (a defensive stalwart following his father’s legacy), and Devonte Allen form what appears an impregnable unit. Despite earlier second-round inconsistencies with draws against Mona High and Eltham High, JC demonstrated overwhelming dominance in knockout stages with decisive victories over Charlie Smith High (4-0), Hydel High (5-0), and St Andrew Technical (4-0).
Head Coach Raymond ‘Stampy’ Watson emphasizes psychological preparedness: ‘We’re not thinking about the opponents. Let them think about us… We just believe in what we are doing.’ Watson acknowledges their previous 2-1 quarter-final victory against Excelsior holds no significance in the final context: ‘This is now where something is on the line… We know what they can do.’
Excelsior High seeks to break a 21-year championship drought, pursuing their eighth Manning Cup since first winning in 1953. Under Head Coach Keon Broderick, the Mountain View Avenue institution reaches its first final in 19 years. Their squad features talented players hardened by recent disappointments—including losses in the 2024 Walker Cup and Under-16 finals—creating a determined group craving redemption.
Offensive prowess centers around prolific scorer Kimarly Scott (19 goals), supported by Terrence Williams, Damarly Williams, and Kivann Salmon. Coach Broderick emphasizes strategic flexibility: ‘It’s for us to be very flexible within the game… We want to capitalize on goalscoring opportunities and limit JC’s chances.’
The anticipated final promises compelling individual duels and tactical sophistication, representing one of the most eagerly awaited schoolboy football championships in recent memory. While Jamaica College enters as statistical favorite, Excelsior’s hunger and preparation could produce a historic upset when the whistle blows at the National Stadium.