Cornwall look set to repeat Cup triumph

By Paul A. Reid, Staff Reporter

WESTERN BUREAU:

THE SIGNS are good for Cornwall College to repeat their victory in the daCosta Cup this year.

If the comparisons with last season's pre-season preparations and the returning players are anything to go by, the red and gold standard bearers should be preparing to celebrate on December 1 at Jarrett Park.

Despite losing three defensive starters, the core of the team is back and coach Dr. Dean Weatherly has restocked from the Under-16 team and from transfers.

Of the "numerous" preseason games they have played, Cornwall have lost just once, in the finals of the St. James FA Lennox Lewis Under-20 competition, to Seba United. Even that loss might be a good omen as they had went down by the same margin to the same team last year.

Coach Weatherly was cautiously optimistic when talking to The Gleaner earlier this week as he said he is trying to guard against over confidence.

Garrick Gordon, who led from the front last year as the team's leading scorer, heads the impressive list of players returning for the 2001 season.

National Under-17 goaltender Richard McCallum, former national Under-17 player DeShaun Woolery, midfielder Rayon Clarke, Dane Richards, Orlando Coleman, Paul Oban and left-footed dead ball specialist Kirkland Samuels are all back as well.

Weatherly, who is also the national Under-17 coach, is confident his team will do well this season and said he thinks the maturity of the players and their knowledge of the game will bode well.

After coming so close before losing the Olivier Shield last season, Weatherly will have his eyes set on going all the way and thinks he has the players who can win the all-island crown.

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