Small

The 2014 staging of the Inter-secondary Schools Sports Association (ISSA)/LIME football season is set to get under way on September 6 with the opening ceremony and a triple header at Montego Bay Sports Complex in St James.

In the first game, starting at 2 p.m., defending Manning Cup champions, Jamaica College, will tackle Jonathan Grant High, to be followed by a clash between last year's daCosta Cup champions, St Elizabeth Technical High, against BB Coke High at 4 p.m. while Green Pond High will meet St James High, two hours later.

In a change from past years, other games are also scheduled on that day in both competitions.

Speaking at yesterday's launch at the Terra Nova Hotel in St Andrew, president of ISSA, Dr Walton Small, lauded the sponsors, while giving an overview of the competitions.

"The competitions could not take place without our sponsors. I know they have a hard task to explain to the investors why they are putting so much money in youth football," Dr Small said.

"We are extremely grateful. Once again, it's time for the most powerful competitions in Jamaica. This year will be a significant one. It is going to be something to remember," he promised.

Carlo Redwood, vice-president for marketing at title sponsor LIME, was excited about the upcoming season.

"It is hard to believe that a year has passed. Our ambition is to bring back the glory days of schoolboy football, and we started off on the right footing last year when we came on board," Redwood disclosed.

"The response was tremendous from supporters last year. LIME's objective is to bring back those days as we are committed to schoolboy football. We believe that a bright future for Jamaica's football is crafted from the schoolboy competitions," he said.

Other sponsors include Burger King, Wisynco and the RJR Communications Group.

Thirty-eight schools will hunt the 2014 Manning Cup title while 113 will battle for the daCosta Cup crown.

Meanwhile, the Olivier Shield to be contested by the winners of the Manning Cup and daCosta Cup will now be played in one leg on December 6, a change from the two-way decider.