ISSA girls’ football returns

Excelsior High School kicks off the defence of its ISSA/Tip Friendly Society Schoolgirls Football Competition by hosting St Andrew Technical High School (STATHS) on Friday at 3 p.m.

Head coach Xavier Gilbert says that his girls are young and he has placed no expectations on them because they have been out of competition for too long because of the pandemic.

"We have been in training and training well," he said. "We are looking to defend our title but we have a very inexperienced team, a very young team.

"The objective is to finish in the top four and take it from there but for now we will look to start the competition with a win and take it one game at a time."

STATHS coach Conroy O'Mally says his girls haven't had the most ideal preparation but that they intend to enjoy the competition as best as possible.

"The girls are excited to play," he said. "It is just about participation now. We are yet to have a team to compete with the powerhouses like Excelsior and St Jago, but the ladies are eager to play football.

"They see the boys doing well in their competitions and they want to do as well but this game on Friday will just be fun for us.

"The most we can do is participate and be happy for the return of football and sports."

Fourteen teams will contest the competition, with Group A consisting of Greater Portmore, STATHS, Tivoli, Camperdown, Excelsior, and Lennon.

Kemps Hill, Garvey Maceo, Holmwood, Manchester, St Elizabeth Technical, Lacovia, and Frome comprise Zone B.

In other games today, Lennon play Greater Portmore, Tivoli take on Camperdown, Garvey Maceo entertain Manchester, Holmwood go up against Kemps Hill, and Lacovia oppose Frome.