Western Bureau

Except for this afternoon's much-anticipated Olivier Shield showdown between rural champions Garvey Maceo and their urban area counterparts Jamaica College, the 2007 ISSA/Pepsi/Digicel schoolboy football season is now history.

While I can't say much about the quality of play in the Manning Cup since I only saw one game, the season opening clash between Norman Manley and Bridgeport at Jarrett Park, I was most impressed with what I saw in the daCosta Cup, which has left me with many pleasant memories.

In terms of general quality, I am absolutely convinced that what I saw in the 2007 competition was as good as anything I have seen in the past decade. What I found most pleasing is the fact that several schools looked like potential champions during the various stages in the competition.

While it could be argued that, with a little more luck, schools such as Glenmuir, Rusea's, Cornwall College and even over-achievers Fair Prospect could have walked away with the coveted title, the truth is that eventual champions Garvey Maceo are most deserving champions.

Personally, I believe Glenmuir's coach, Jeffrey Hewitt, deserves full credit for the mature manner in which he guided his team not only to the daCosta Cup but also the Ben Francis KO title, the second half of the rural double. Surely, his team truly deserves the mantle of undisputed champions of rural schoolboy football.

To have prevailed over top-flight coaches such as Glenmuir's Jackie Walters, Cornwall College's Dr. Dean Weatherley, Rusea's Anthony 'Follies' Williams and Munro College's Hopeton Gilchrist, young coach Hewitt has shown that he has the requisite skills to go places. I do hope the Jamaica Football Association (JFF) does what it can to facilitate his further development.

Reggae boy potential?

And speaking of special talent, this year marks the first time in many years, possibly since the mid-1980s, that I have seen players on the daCosta Cup circuit that I believe have the requisite skills to walk into the national senior team based on their talent and the level of maturity they have been displaying.

If I could compare talent, I believe that players such as Garvey Maceo's prolific striker Ashton Bennett, Glenmuir's midfield dynamo John-Ross Doyley and Cornwall College's wily winger Edward Campbell, are far more gifted than some of the players I have seen representing the national senior team in recent times.

In fact, in light of the talent pool I have seen in the daCosta Cup this year, I believe it is rather sad that the JFF does not have a programme in place to facilitate the continuous development of those youngsters, who live in parishes that do not have a NPL team, which would afford them the opportunity to even play in the Under-21 club competition.

As I have said in previous columns, I believe the Under-21 club competition should be scrapped and replaced with an Under-21 all island parish competition. Such a competition would offer the youngsters who do not live in St. James, Westmoreland, Clarendon, St. Catherine, Portland and Kingston an opportunity to showcase their talent.

I know that this idea of an Under-21 parish competition will not go down well with some clubs, especially those who are seemingly developing players to sell on the international market. However, if we are concerned about national development, the better option must be to offer greater opportunity scope for all the youngsters across the island.

N.B., Send your feedback to adrianfrater@hotmail.com