Paul Clarke, STAR Writer

WESTERN BUREAU:

The drama and spectacle that are provided by the ISSA/Flow daCosta Cup season will get under way with football to settle the argument of which team is the best in the country.

Last year, with Patrick 'Jackie' Walters in charge, Clarendon College claimed the coveted title, the symbol of rural area schoolboy football supremacy, with victory over St Elizabeth Technical High School (STETHS) and they are among the favourites again this year.

With Paul 'Tegat' Davis now pulling the strings, he feels no pressure and neither is he under any illusion about his team's chances.

"It is going to be a difficult season, which is why we need to make the players aware of what they will be playing for. Teams we know will be coming at us, so we need that edge and we will be fine," said Davis.

Winning last year, broke a 14-year title drought for Clarendon College, and they want to hold on to their title.

"While we are expecting a tough season with an almost brand new squad, we remain champions and will compete as such. We are hoping to surprise the pundits with a solid season that could deliver for us the title once again," Davis said of the seven-time winners.

Good measure

Cornwall College, winningest school in the history of the competition - with 11 titles to their name - will also be among the favourites, along with STETHS, Rusea's and Clarendon College. Glenmuir, champions in 2012 and Frome Technical, winners of the 2003 edition, could be spoilers.

Add for good measure the outside chances of Paul Bogle, Marcus Garvey High and Cedric Titus High and the plot begins to thicken. These are the teams to watch, according to some pundits, but it's the Dr Dean Weatherly conditioned Cornwall College who are looking rather ominous.

"It will be competitive this year and we have a good chance to go deep into the competition based on the fact these players have matured and are more experienced, plus we have seen the players become more mature, which bodes well for the season," said Weatherly.

"Cornwall should be in a position to break the drought this year," he added.

Aaron Lawrence is hoping to bring his alma mater, Rusea's, level with Cornwall on number of titles won. The Hanover-based school has 10 trophies to Cornwall's 11.

"We are a championship school. We thrive on competition and will raise our game and level each match. The heritage here is massive and Rusea's High will be one of the schools to watch this year," Lawrence stated.

STETHS have won the daCosta Cup four times, their last was in 2013. However, they have a stranglehold on the Ben Francis KO, winning it six years consecutively.

They declare a challenge on all four titles on offer, but it's the coveted daCosta Cup they want the most.

"We want to win all four titles," declared the school's technical director, Wendell Downswell.

"The group of players we have is one that can do a good job. I am not worried about what we cannot control. STETHS this year will be challenging on all four fronts," Downswell stated. "We have enough quality to push all the way."