We're better than you! Charlemont, Dinthill play mind games ahead of hot Zone K clash

Charlemont High School, who are picked as one of the dark horses for the 2018 ISSA/WATA daCosta Cup competition, will face their toughest test this afternoon, in former champions and last season's semi-finalist Dinthill Technical High School, as both teams look to make it three from three at the Charlemont High field.

Thirty-four other matches are set for the daCosta Cup, at 3:30 pm.

Assistant coach of Charlemont, Michael Israel, said that despite the recent recruitments by their opposition, they know they have the quality to beat Dinthill and upset them to finish top of zone 'K' this season.

"Judging by the strength that we knew about for Dinthill from preseasons, we know we had better quality, but with the additional players they recently brought in, we don't worry about them. So we will just have to wait and see because we know we are up against a tough opposition. We are going to go out there and do our best in order to remain on top," Israel said.

"This won't play on the psychology of the team, because some of our boys know the players from Dinthill, so they have their own personal motivation to beat this team. It would if we were going to the game thinking that Dinthill is the favourite, but we are going into the game believing that we are better than this Dinthill team," he added.

EXPLOITING WEAKNESS

Coach of Dinthill Technical High School, Xavier Gilbert, who outlined that their objective for the first round is to win all their matches, is aware of the hype surrounding this game and is focused on nullifying Charlemont's strengths and exploiting their weaknesses.

"Their team seems to be doing well, especially in the early part of the preseason," Gilbert told STAR Sports. "They are labelled as one of the dark horses. We are mindful of that, but we just have to continue what we are doing. I'm sure we will come away with the three points tomorrow," Gilbert said.

"Every game that you play, one has to be both physically and mentally tough. We just have to ensure if there are any weaknesses in the mental capacity, we capitalise as well. We know the crowd is going to be out, as it's a big clash that has been talked about," he added.

Today's ISSA/WATA daCosta Cup fixtures

Hosts Visitors Venue

Tacky vs St. Mary High Tacky

Bog Walk vs Ewarton Bybrook Sports Club

Charlemont vs Dinthill Charlemont High

Port Antonio vs Titchfield Port Antonio

Happy Grove vs Fair Prospect Hector's River

Cross Keys vs Bellefield Cross Key

Glenmuir vs Garvey Maceo Juici Patties Park

Kemps Hill vs Central Kemps Hill High

Old Harbour vs Vere Tech Bodles Field

Seaforth vs Robert Lightbourne Seaforth High

Yallahs vs Morant Bay Phillipsfield

Paul Bogle vs St Thomas Tech York Oval

Maggotty vs STETHS Appleton Sports Complex

Oracabessa vs York Castle Oracabessa Comm. Centre

Cornwall College vs Anchovy Cornwall College

Maldon vs St James Maldon

Green Pond vs Irwin Green Pond

Rusea's vs Hopewell Ruseas

Frome vs Merlene Ottey Frome Sports Complex

William Knibb vs Herbert Morrison William Knibb

Spot Valley vs Cedric Titus Spot Valley

Petersfield vs Little London Petersfield

Munro College vs Sydney Pagon Munro College

Lacovia vs Newell Lacovia

Mile Gully vs Manchester Mile Gully Comm. Centre

Belair High vs B.B. Coke Belair

DeCarteret vs May Day DeCarteret College

Holmwood vs Alston Holmwood

Spalding vs Christiana Spalding

Clarendon Col vs Kellits High Clarendon College

Lennon vs Thompson Town Lennon

Browns Town vs Ocho Rios Browns Town

Marcus Garvey vs Iona High Drax Hall

St Mary Tech vs Brimmervale Richmond Farm Sp. Complex

Guys Hill vs Carron Hall High Woodpark

* ALL MATCHES STARTS AT 3:30 p.m.