( L - R ) Pastor Hugh Solomon, Anthony 'Follies' Williams

Western Bureau

With the Ben Francis KO now history, action will resume in the 2008 ISSA/Pepsi/Digicel daCosta Cup this afternoon.

Twenty-four schools will be in action in 12 inter-zone games.

The qualifiers, who earned their inter-zone slots by virtue of finishing in the top two in their respective zones in the competition's preliminary phase, are divided into six groups of four teams each. The group winners and the two best second-place teams will advance to the competition's quarter-final round.

Firm favourites

While all the games carry equal importance, the Group One clash at the Frome sports ground between newly crowned Ben Francis KO champions St James High and Frome Technical. St James High are now firm favourites for the coveted rural double - Ben Francis KO and daCosta Cup.

"Our aim is to add the daCosta Cup to the Ben Francis Trophy and we strongly believe we can do it," said Pastor Hugh Solomon, the coach of the unbeaten St James High team.

In Saturday's Ben Francis KO final, St James High, unbeaten after 16 games, blunted the challenge of Dinthill 4-0 to win their first major title. However, despite the hype around the St James team, their opponents, 2003 champions Frome Technical, cannot be slighted, although their nine wins, one draw and three defeats preliminary, round record is not impressive.

Frome should be particularly wary of the St James crack front line, which features Allan Ottey, who scored twice against Dinthill, and has 12 goals this season; and Nicholi Barrett, who also scored against Dinthill and has tallied 13 goals in all competitions this season.

Closely watched match

The big Jarrett Park matchup between former champions Cornwall College and Rusea's should be closely watched. Cornwall College, second behind St James High in Zone A of the preliminary round, enter the game with an eight-win, two draws and two defeats record while Rusea's, who won Zone B had an impressive 11-win and one-draw record.

"We are unbeaten in the daCosta Cup and we plan to stay that way," said Rusea's coach Anthony 'Follies' Williams, whose only loss this season was a 1-0, defeat by Lacovia in the Ben Francis KO. "We are expecting the usual tough game from Cornwall College but we are confident and ready."

Then 24 teams according to their respective groups are as follows: Group One - St James, Frome, Godfrey Stewart and Cedric Titus; Group Two - Cornwall College, Rusea's, Grange Hill and Marcus Garvey; Group Three - Lacovia, Bellefield, Spaldings and Clarendon College; Group Four - STETHS, Manchester High, Christiana and Lennon; Group Five - Old Harbour, Bog Walk, St Mary Technical and St Thomas Technical; and Group Six - Glenmuir, Dinthill, Annotto Bay and Paul Bogle.

Today's matches

Godfrey Stewart vs Cedric Titus - at Frome Sports Club - 1 p.m.

Frome vs St James - at Frome Sports Club - 3 p.m.

Marcus Garvey vs Grange Hill - at Drax Hall - 3 p.m.

Christiana vs Manchester - at Kirkvine Sports Club -1 p.m.

Spalding vs Bellefield - at Kirkvine Sports Club - 3 p.m.

Clarendon College vs Lacovia - at Jamalco Sports Club -1 p.m.

Lennon vs STETHS - at Jamalco Sports Club - 3 p.m.

Annotto Bay vs Dinthill - at Clembhard's Park - 1 p.m.

St Mary Tech vs Bog Walk - at Clembhard's Park - 3 p.m.

St Thomas Technical vs Old Harbour - York Oval - 1 p.m.

Paul Bogle vs Glenmuir - at York Oval - 3 p.m.

Cornwall vs Rusea's - at Jarrett Park - 3 p.m.