daCosta Cup round of 16 brings intrigue

The round of 16 of the ISSA daCosta Cup football competition gets under way tomorrow, with several intriguing matchups on the schedule as teams battle for places in the quarterfinals.

Among the standout fixtures is a highly anticipated clash between Clarendon powerhouse Glenmuir High and defending champions St Elizabeth Technical High School (STETHS).

STETHS, a dominant force in recent years, will need to raise their level after a below-par second-round campaign saw them qualify as Group A’s best third-placed team with nine points.

Known for building momentum as the competition progresses, the Santa Cruz-based school will be hoping to hit top form at the right time under the new ISSA format. However, they face a stern challenge from a Glenmuir team that topped Group B with 13 points.

Former champions Glenmuir, meanwhile, have maintained their winning form and enter the round as the 2026 ISSA Ben Francis Cup champions.

The ‘Colour Red’ outfit has established itself among the competition’s leading contenders over the past three seasons and will be eager to add another prestigious title to its collection.

However, STETHS will be determined to retain their crown after edging Glenmuir 9-8 on penalties in last season’s final.

Glenmuir will look to standout player Orel Miller to lead the charge while STETHS will be relying on Dantay Hewitt to deliver if they are to overcome the Clarendon school and keep their title defence on track.

In Clarendon, former champions Clarendon College and Group B runners-up Lacovia High, who finished with 12 points, are set for an eye-catching encounter at 3 p.m.

Clarendon College, who topped Group E with 15 points, enjoyed an impressive second round and will be looking to make a positive start to their campaign.

Lacovia have also shown impressive form and will be hoping to upset their more established opponents.

Despite being regarded as underdogs, Lacovia’s first-year head coach, Willard Douglas, believes his team have earned their place in the last 16 and are capable of mounting a strong challenge.

“We should be able to put up a good fight against Clarendon. It is a good team, but we are in the round of 16, and we didn’t buy our place here. We earned our spot and are up for the fight,” said Douglas.

“They are many-time champions. This is our third time qualifying in this round, so giving us the underdog title is okay. But football is played on the day, and we aim to play football,” he added.

Clarendon College closed out their second-round campaign with a 4-1 victory over Lennon High, while Lacovia suffered a 2-0 defeat to Glenmuir to finish second in the group standings.

Meanwhile, in Westmoreland, Group F winners Manning’s School, who finished with 15 points, and Group A runners-up Munro College, who had 12 points, will meet for the second time this season.

Munro coach Everdean Scarlett believes his team must improve their concentration and consistency if they are to progress further in the competition.

“We have to concentrate better during the course of the game because if we lose it, eventually we will pay for it. We have some stuff we have to work on coming into this game,” said Scarlett.

“We have to press on, move forward, and see what the round of 16 has to offer,” he added.

Munro are the only team to have beaten Manning’s this season, securing a 2-1 victory in the round of 16 of the Ben Francis Cup knockout competition.

Tomorrow’s matches

Ocho Rios High vs Cornwall College

Frome Technical vs Garvey Maceo

Glenmuir High vs STETHS

Manning’s vs Munro

Manchester vs Kemps Hill

Denbigh vs Dinthill Technical

Clarendon College vs Lacovia

McGrath vs Central