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Ben Francis KO: Manchester High on revenge mission against Cornwall College
September 29, 2026
Manchester High will be on a revenge mission when they host seven-time champions Cornwall College, as the Inter-Secondary Schools Sports Association Ben Francis KO competition’s round of 16 officially get under way today.
The schools clash today at 3 p.m, with a place in the quarter-finals at stake.
Cornwall ended Manchester’s campaign at the same stage last season, edging them 4-2 on penalties after the teams battled to a 1-1 draw, and Manchester’s coach, Johnoy Chambers, is hoping home advantage will help his team turn the tables this time around.
“Cornwall would have knocked us out at the quarter-final stage in this competition last year, so we’re looking forward to facing them again. The beauty about it this time is that they’re the ones coming to us, so they have to adjust to us,” said Chambers.
No pushovers
Even while they are seen as underdogs, Manchester are no pushovers and will try to rewrite the script to keep alive their aspirations to claim a title this season.
“I expect it to be a really entertaining game. I expect the fans to come out; all of Manchester will be here to push us, so we’ll be using the home crowd as an advantage as we push when Cornwall come this afternoon,” he added.
Cornwall’s head coach Leacroft Lettman said the goal is to ensure the boys are ready to perform.
“Travelling is really different from being at home, so the timing of everything is going to be important; how the boys eat, at what time, how they get back the relaxation for the muscles on the journey,” said Lettman.
Rich history
Cornwall’s rich history over the decades has made them a perennial favourites, and like Manchester, they have a clear intention of taking another step toward the title.
The boys from Orange Street in Montego Bay have won seven Ben Francis KO titles, the last coming in 2003. They are tied with St. Elizabeth Technical High School as having the most titles.
Last season, Cornwall lost in the Ben Francis final, going down 1-2 to eventual champions Clarendon College.
“I think they are up and ready for the task. Once you’re ready to take on the mantle on the road, you have to step out of your comfort zone,” said Lettman.
“We see the fruit bearing as these boys have grown into each game as they step on the field.”
