file - Nicholi Barrett (right) of St James High in action against Irwin last year.

Kwesi Mugisa & Adrian Frater, Star Writers

Defending champions Jamaica College (JC) will get the 2008-2009 schoolboy football season under way when they tackle Jonathan Grant in the first of three games scheduled for a 12:30 p.m. kick-off time at Jarrett Park today.

In other matches, current daCosta Cup holders Garvey Maceo will open their season against Kemps Hill at 2:45 p.m., while former champions Cornwall, take on St James High at 4:35 p.m.

Having savoured the sweet taste of victory after a 33-year absence from the winners' circle, JC will no doubt be anxious to return to winning ways. The Old Hope Road-based school had also captured the Olivier Shield title following a 2-0 win over Garvey Maceo. JC will be in pursuit of even more history as they look to join Kingston College, St George's, Camperdown and Excelsior as the only teams to win repeat titles in 41 years. The last team to do so was the Lebert Halliman-coached Excelsior in the 2003-2004 season and the 2004-2005 seasons.

more experienced players

However, the dark blues will have to do so this season without a few of their more experienced players who were key to their victory last season. Centre half Robert Palmer, midfielder Akeem Bennett, strikers Ramone Palmer and Anthony Grant have since taken up scholarship opportunities and are no longer at the institution.

All four players, formerly coached by now deceased Calabar coach David Hunt, joined the school last season after being refused entry to the Calabar sixth form. However, with plenty of other players, who made an impact last year, like André Christian, DeAndré Brown and Kemar Douglas still among their number, they will no doubt have a say in their title defence.

Though proving to be a competitive team in Group F last season, where they finished behind St Andrew Technical and Excelsior, Jonathan Grant are not expected to mount a significant challenge in today's opener.

Garvey Maceo, who denied Glenmuir a repeat daCosta Cup title last season, will also be looking for a strong start against Kemps Hill. While Garvey Maceo will be pinning most of their hopes on seasoned veterans Shawn Fogah, Richard Allen and Mikhail Howell, the brash Kemps Hill will be hoping to unleash the likes of Derrick Planter, Kirk Wood and Vijay Ranger, with stunning effect.

battle royal

The show-closing Montego Bay derby between arch-rivals Cornwall College and St James should be a battle royal as both teams simply hate to lose to the other and with the expected pressure from their loyal fans, the game could prove as epic as any final.

"Our preparation has been quite good and we are basically ready to go out and perform," said Pastor Hugh Solomon, the coach of the St. James High team. "We plan to take it stage by stage, but our first objective is to get to the inter-zone round."

Unlike Pastor Solomon, Dr Dean Weatherley, who guided Cornwall College to the title in 2001 and 2002, was quite blunt in declaring that he expected his team to at least make it into the final, arguing that he had seen the requisite signs in his preparation.

"This team is quite balanced and well prepared and once they maintain their discipline and stay focused, I am expecting them to go all the way to the final," said Dr Weatherley. "I can't remember ever putting so much work into preparing a team."

While Cornwall College will be banking on experienced campaigners such as Michael Allen, Mark Cunningham, Sean Afflick, St James should be quite robust with the likes of Allan Ottey, Nicholi Barrett, Adrian Barker and young Jason Malcolm.