KINGSTON, Jamaica — The drought is finally over. Excelsior High stormed back into the spotlight on Friday night, toppling Jamaica College 2-0 under the bright lights of the National Stadium to capture the 2023 ISSA/Wata Manning Cup title. It was a night of redemption, resolve, and resurgence as the Mountain View-based institution hoisted the prestigious trophy for the first time since 2004.
After a cagey first half, the breakthrough came just before the hour mark when Kimarley Scott found the back of the net, sending the Excelsior faithful into a frenzy. The goal shifted the balance, rattling a Jamaica College side that had looked nearly invincible all season.
But JC’s unbeaten run met its match in Excelsior’s grit. As the clock ticked past 90 minutes, substitute Kivann Salmon etched his name into school folklore, slotting home the insurance goal during stoppage time and sealing the school’s eighth Manning Cup title.
The win marked a dramatic reversal of fortune for Excelsior, a once-dominant force that had watched from the sidelines for over two decades. For Jamaica College, it was a bitter pill—their first defeat of the season arriving at the worst possible moment.
While silverware returned to the halls of Excelsior, the final was more than a football match; it was a generational statement. Legacy restored. Drought broken. The Eagles are flying again.
