Schoolboy football is set to return to Jamaica next month after the Jamaican government gave the go-ahead for the Inter-Secondary School Sports Association (ISSA) to get the popular Manning and DaCosta Cup competitions to resume following their respective cancellations in 2020 because of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

However, there will be changes to the format and players and support personnel will have to be vaccinated to participate.

ISSA revealed the news in a statement on Monday (October 25) in which it said it is now finalising arrangements to commence the Manning Cup and DaCosta Cup on Friday, November 12 or Saturday, November 13 while revealing some of the changes to come into effect.

“For the first time in recent memory, the season will be divided into two segments with the Preliminary Rounds and Quarter Finals slated to be completed before the Christmas Break and the knockout stages when school resumes in January (2022),” the statement said.

“It is mandatory that all players and officials wishing to participate take at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine before the start of the competition. Failure to comply automatically renders the individual ineligible. No spectators will be allowed for at least the preliminary round of the competition,” ISSA indicated.

Participating schools have also been granted approval to commence regular training activities along with joint training sessions amongst schools to facilitate preseason preparation, subject to the dictates of the Disaster Risk Management Act (DRMA) and final approval for such sessions by ISSA.

The body governing high school sports in Jamaica said it will utilise the three weeks preceding the start of the competitions to fine-tune all execution plans with its various stakeholders, including the relevant government agencies and that it is thankful to the Government of Jamaica for the confidence and trust placed in the organisation.

“We implore all participants and the public in general, to offer us its support through their commitment to abiding by all the established and agreed protocols which facilitated the approval,” ISSA’s statement said.