History-making Kemps Hill seek greater success

WHEN the four teams contest the ISSA rural daCosta Cup football semi-finals on Tuesday, there is one team that was never expected to be among the final four -- Kemps Hill High.

However, the Race Course, Clarendon-based school has seen its team punch well above its weight throughout the competition.

After creating history by advancing to the quarter-finals for the first time, they went even further by booking a semi-final spot and are now on the cusp of making more history, by reaching the final, when they face former champions St Elizabeth Technical High School (STETHS) at Stadium East in Kingston.

"I am elated, and the entire family -- including people in the community and the school -- is happy about the achievement," said Kiegon Mitchell, the team's head coach. "Many people from the community were out to greet the team when we arrived home on Saturday night after the win over McGrath."

Drawn in the so-called 'Group of Death' in the preliminary round, Kemps Hill finished third to advance to the second round. It was there that their giantkilling act began, as they stunned favourites and former champions Glenmuir High 1-0 at home. Several days later, they proved that win was no fluke by edging defending champions Garvey Maceo by the same margin, also at home. They then blanked Frome Technical 2-0 in the round of 32 to become the last team to book a spot in the round of 16.

BOUNCED BACK

In the round of 16, Kemps Hill lost their opening match 0-2 to Cornwall College, but bounced back for two wins to book their spot into the quarter-finals.

In a highly controversial encounter in their opening game of the quarter-final round against STETHS, two key players, including influential goalkeeper and captain Omario Chambers, were sent off.

However, they responded brilliantly in their next two matches, defeating Old Harbour High and Ocho Rios High to reach the quarter-finals for the first time in the school's history.

Just like the round of 16, they lost their first quarter-final game, going down 2-3 to Glenmuir High, before rebounding with victories over Cornwall College, who had beaten them earlier, and last year's beaten finalists McGrath High, on Saturday, to secure a place in the top four.

"I was always confident this team would go deep in the competition despite the many naysayers. I have worked with the majority of these boys since they were 13 and 14 years old, as I was the under-14 coach," said the 32-year-old Mitchell, a graduate of the G.C. Foster College of Physical Education and Sports.

"I took over the daCosta Cup team two years ago after the former head coach migrated to Kingston and I was elevated to the position. These boys are no strangers to me, and knowing their strengths and weaknesses made my job much easier," he added.

Despite being beaten by STETHS earlier in the competition, Mitchell has no fear ahead of the semi-final clash.

"We will now be playing at a neutral venue, and I am extremely confident of victory. Despite playing in Kingston for the first time these boys are ready, and once they bring their A-game they will be unstoppable. We are expecting more history, as we are confident of a win," he said.