Adrian Frater, News Editor
Western Bureau:

Defending champions Rusea's High School and their Zone B counterparts Green Island High School will be the two teams on show at the 'official opening' when 2011 ISSA/Gatorade/Digicel daCosta Cup season kicks off at the Montego Bay Stadium in St James.

However, unlike former years when only two matches, at the same venue, would be played on the competition's opening day, this year's schedule is much different as in addition to the Rusea's versus Green Island game, there will be a full slate of matches in zones F, G, H, I and J.

"We are trying to take advantage of the time available to us before the rainy part of the season starts," said George Forbes, ISSA director of competition. "If we get off the matches early; we won't have the heavy backlog in the rainy period."

The official opening game in Montego Bay, which is slated for 4:15 p.m.,will be preceded by the season's opening Manning Cup game between champions Jamaica College and Camperdown High School at 2:00 p.m. and the opening dress parade/opening ceremony at 3:45 p.m.

Based on the recent history between Rusea's and Green Island, the former who are being jointly coached by the experienced duo of Emerson 'Diggy' Henry and Anthony ÔFolliesÕ Williams, should start favourites to make a winning start.

"Our aim is to get the season off to a positive start and take it from there," said Williams.

However, for the Green Island team, which is returning to the competition after a three-year break, coach Dwayne Watson is looking forward to the opening game with much relish.

"We are not intimidated at all. In fact, we are looking forward to this game as while we have a young team, we have a lot of very good talent," said coach Watson. "I am sure playing them at the Montego Bay Stadium will be much more comforting to my players than playing down on their home ground."

On paper, Rusea's looks awesome, having retained the vast majority of last year's team including golden boot winner Brian Brown, Nicodie Haughton, Wonnick Pinnock, Torito Gregory and national Under-17 players, goalkeeper Richard Trench and the speedy striker Anthony Walker, and should be hard to beat this season.

While most of his players are basically unknown, coach Watson believes Green Island will be well served by Fabian Royce, Gregory Chin and Nayo Simmons, whom he believes has the requisite talent to create an impact on the competition, which is symbol of rural schoolboy football supremacy.

Today's games:

Zone B (Official opening game)

Rusea's vs Green Island - Montego Bay Stadium - 4:15 p.m.

Zone F

STETHS vs DeCarteret - STETHS - 3:30 p.m.

Balaclava vs Munro - Balaclava - 3:30 p.m.

Newell vs Lacovia - Newell - 3:30 p.m.

Zone G

Bellefield vs Holmwood - Bellefield - 3:30 p.m.

Spalding vs Knox - Kirkvine - 1:00 p.m.

Manchester High vs Mile Gully - Manchester High - 3:30 p.m.

Zone H

Clarendon College vs Claude McKay - Chapleton - 3:30 p.m.

Porus vs Edwin Allen - Porus Community Centre - 3:30 p.m.

Thompson Town vs Lennon - Turner - 3:30 p.m.

Zone I

Glenmuir vs Denbigh - Glenmuir - 3:30 p.m.

Bustamante vs Kemps Hill - Monymusk - 3:30 p.m.

Central vs Garvey Maceo - Central High - 3:30 p.m.

Zone J

Tacius Golding vs Ewarton - Bodles - 3:30 p.m.

Old Harbour vs Dinthill - Soya Oval - 3:30 p.m.

McGrath vs Charlemont - McGrath - 3:30 p.m.

Rusea's coach Anthony 'Follies' Williams