Bernard: This could be KC's year - Coach weighs up Manning Cup chances
Published:Thursday | August 9, 2018 | 12:00 AMRobert Bailey/Gleaner Writer
Having retained 10 players from last year's team, that won the ISSA-FLOW Super Cup competition, Kingston College's (KC) head coach Ludlow Bernard, says they are ready to make a very serious push for the Manning Cup title in the upcoming campaign.
KC, who were one of the favourites to win last year's title, were beaten by St Andrew Technical High School in the semi-final of the Manning Cup competition.
In fact, the North Street-based institution has not won the Manning Cup title since 1986.
However, Bernard told The Gleaner that this could be the year that they break the drought but dismissed suggestions that the expectations will also mean added pressure to deliver.
"[There will be] a thrust for championships again just like the previous two seasons," said Bernard. "This time, however, we want to ensure that we put things in the right places so that we can get the formula correct for winning."
"Once you are with Kingston College, there is always pressure because there is always the expectations that Kingston College teams will perform and be successful, and so, it is no different from last season," Bernard said.
RETAINED PLAYERS
Among the players that KC have retained from last season are Dwayne Atkinson, Casseam Priestley, Nathan Thomas, Renato Campbell, and Trevon Reid.
Bernard stated that despite the loss of a number of key players such as the competition's top goalscorer Rashawn Mackison and top defender and captain Javain Brown, he is confident that they will do well this year.
"Although we are retuning a different set of players, the quality is very much evident, and we will certainly do our best to try and achieve the ultimate this year," said Bernard.
"The challenge that we have is it that there are a number of players playing Manning Cup for KC for the first time, but so far, training has been very productive and there is, of course, the whole matter of expectations, and so, we are confident about what we will be producing this year," he said.