Mixed reactions to Champions Cup cancellation

There have been mixed reactions from stakeholders over the Inter-Secondary Schools Sports Association (ISSA) confirmation that the 2025 Champions Cup competition had been cancelled.

Some, like Cornwall College’s leading goalscorer, Carlondo Morris, have been philosophical, while others have voiced disappointment.

“I think everything happens for a reason. Maybe God has a plan for me going forward, so I can’t really focus on the cancellation of the competiton,” said Morris, who scored 25 goals in the season.

The decision not to stage the tournament came after ISSA conducted consultations with key stakeholders and reviewed several logistical challenges linked to hosting the competition at this time of the year.

Unlike Morris, the decision has drawn disappointment from Kiegan Mitchell, coach of Kemps Hill High, who says the focus must now shift to maintaining motivation ahead of the next season.

“We actually got word that we were going to play, so we actually resumed dorm and started training. Now to hear that it is cancelled, I would say I’m a bit disappointed, and so are the boys who were looking forward to it,” said Mitchell, whose team would have been participating in the Champions Cup for the first time.

With the season over, Mitchell advises the team to rest and get ready for training in March and April, framing the cancellation as a part of life.

“We didn’t even know the daCosta Cup would resume after the hurricane and we had a wonderful season. Next season we still have the core of the team, so we would have a better chance next year going for the title rather than just competing this year,” added Mitchell.

ISSA expressed gratitude to schools, sponsors, and partners for their unwavering support throughout the 2025 schoolboy football season, noting that their cooperation was vital in successfully staging the competitions under difficult conditions.

Meanwhile, Keon Broderick, coach of Manning Cup and Olivier Shield titleholders Excelsior High School, said while the players might feel disappointed, the team is not entirely disheartened, recognising the challenge of maintaining a competitive mindset after winning two titles.

“About four outgoing players who would have never played in a Champions Cup before, for their sake, we wanted them to play and get that experience,” said Broderick, who considers the season as one of the best in the school’s history.

“From a team perspective, they’re not entirely disappointed with the cancellation because, basically, to get them back to a competitive mindset and playing, it would be very difficult to get a team who has won two titles to get back to playing,” added Broderick.

ISSA also reaffirmed its commitment to the holistic development of student-athletes and confirmed plans to return with the full slate of schoolboy football competitions in 2026.

The Champions Cup would have been played during the period of January 20-31.

Due to the intervention of Hurricane Melissa, which ravaged sections of the western region, the Champions Cup had initially been pushed back to January 21.

The format would have had 12 teams, the four daCosta Cup semi-finalists (STETHS, Glenmuir High, Kemps Hill High, Dinthill Technical), four Manning Cup semi-finalists (Excelsior, Jamaica College, Eltham High and St Andrew Technical High School), Ben Francis Cup finalists (Clarendon College and Cornwall College), as well as Walker Cup finalists (St Catherine High and Mona High).

Jamaica College are the defending champions.