Left: Neville Bell, coach of St George's Right: Alfred Henry, coach of JC - File photos

They may have some 40 titles between them, but only one team will add to its rich legacy when the light blues of St George's College clash with Jamaica College's (JC) dark blues, in the final of the ISSA/Pepsi/Digicel Manning Cup in the National Stadium at 3 p.m. tomorrow, and by all indications expect a battle royal.

The matchup is one of the most anticipated in recent years not only due to the presence of the traditional teams, but also the noted high power offence both are known for. Following assurances given by both camps, the attacking tactic is not one they will depart from and that should make for some entertaining football.

"We will play the way that we have all season, a style which suits us best and that is attacking football," said St George's coach Neville Bell, the man at the helm when the North Street team lifted their last title in 1992.

Big occasion

"It is a big occasion, a big game, I would be surprised if the players weren't a bit nervous, but we are feeling confident and I think we will be ready," Bell, who held a training session at the school watched by hundreds of uniform clad supporters, added.

The North Street team has scored some 52 goals this season, led up front by the competition's leading scorer Kemal Malcolm and Shammar Shelton. However, conceding goals has been a sore point all season long. In fact, in their last few games, the North Street team went up 2-0 before having to pull out a late 3-2 win against STATHS in the semi-final and before that slid to a 3-2 loss against JC in the final game of the quarter-final round after leading by an identical margin.

However, according to Bell, that earlier loss could serve as added motivation for the team.

"If that does not serve as an added motivation for the team, then we should not be in the final, they are the only team to beat us this season and I'm sure the players have kept that in mind," he said.

Kemal Malcolm of St George's College - Ricardo Makyn

Almost eliminated from the competition following a 2-0 quarter-final round to Waterford, the title holders had to battle tooth and nail to stay alive, knocking off Eltham 4-2 before winning the crucial St George's game.

"The team has overachieved a lot to date, no one was expecting us to reach this far, and as such we don't know what will happen in the final. We just have to take it as another game," was the conservative estimate of JC coach Alfred Henry, who has seen his team blast in 54 goals.

"Everybody's guess is as good as mine. As a realist, I deal with it as it comes, and on Saturday we will see what will happen," he added.

"Manning Cup for me is not about winning the Cup, it is about winning individuals. There is more to accomplish than the Cup, and that has been the overall philosophy guiding the programme since 2005, and is what is driving us," he said.

In the curtain-raiser at the National Stadium at 1:00 p.m. Excelsior High and Calabar High will meet in a replay of the Walker Cup final. The first match, on October 31, had to be called off due to bad light at Constant Spring with the scores tied at 8-8 in a penalty shoot-out. They were locked at 1-1 after full and extra time.

Only the grandstand will be opened for tomorrow's game. Entrance fees are: adults $500 and students (with identification) $200.