Kemps Hill’s Mitchell left disappointed after cancellation of Champions Cup

Kiegan Mitchell, head coach of Kemps Hill High, has expressed his disappointment with the move to cancel the Inter Secondary Schools Association (ISSA) 2025 Champions Cup competition.

ISSA confirmed in a statement yesterday that the decision came after they conducted consultations with key stakeholders and reviewed several logistical challenges linked to hosting the competition at this time of the year.

"We actually got word that we were going to play, so we actually resumed dorm and started training. Now to hear that it is cancelled, I would say I'm a bit disappointed, and so are the boys who were looking forward to it," said Mitchell.

This would have been their first Champions Cup and with the season now over Mitchell is now looking ahead to next season. His players will now rest and get ready for training in March and April.

"We didn't even know the daCosta Cup would have resumed after the hurricane and we had a wonderful season. Next season, we will still have the core of the team so we should have a better chance at the title," added Mitchell.

Cornwall College's leading goal scorer Carlondo Morris said he has no issue with the decision as there is room for improvement in his game.

"I think everything happens for a reason. Maybe God has a plan for me going forward so I can't really focus on the cancellation of the competition," said Morris, who scored 25 goals in the past season.

"It (last season) was a solid performance from me but there is still room for improvement going forward," added Morris.

In its statement ISSA expressed gratitude to schools, sponsors, and partners for their unwavering support throughout the 2025 schoolboy football season, noting that their cooperation was vital in successfully staging competitions under difficult conditions.

ISSA also reaffirmed its commitment to the holistic development of student-athletes and confirmed plans to return with the full slate of schoolboy football competitions in 2026, promising renewed opportunities for excellence across the island.

The Champions Cup would have been played January 20-31. Due to Hurricane Melissa, which ravaged sections of the western region, the competition was pushed into the new year.

Twelve teams were expected to compete in the Champions Cup.

DaCosta Cup semi-finalists: St Elizabeth Technical, Glenmuir High, Kemps Hill High and Dinthill Technical

Manning Cup semi-finalists: Excelsior High, Jamaica College, Eltham High and St Andrew Technical

Ben Francis Cup finalists: Clarendon College and Cornwall College

Walker Cup finalists: St Catherine High and Mona High

The Champions Cup replaced the Super Cup, which was started by former sponsors Flow in the second year of their five-year sponsorship deal with ISSA, which ended in 2017. Jamaica College won the Cup in 2024.