St Catherine - Time for the title, says coach

Coach of St Catherine High, Anthony Patrick, is looking to win the ISSA/Digicel Manning Cup title in what will be the final year of his three-year plan.

Patrick took charge two years ago and guided the team out of the preliminary stage each year. Now he is planning to go all the way and land the Manning Cup title for the first time in the school's history.

"We are definitely aiming for the title this year," Patrick told The Gleaner after a practice game against Red Stripe Premier League outfit Waterhouse at Drewsland last Saturday morning.

"I would say we are about 75 per cent ready for the start of the Manning Cup season. I am very pleased with where we are now. The aim is to make it through from the group and move on to the more difficult round," he shared.

Aim is to win

"As a team that reached the quarter-finals last season ahead of former champions, Excelsior, who are also in the group, our aim is to win the group and take it from there. The main goal is to give it our all and see where that can take us this year," he stressed.

"I am in my final year of a three-year programme so it would be a major achievement for St Catherine to go deeper in the competition following second-round berths in the previous two years."

Patrick is satisfied by the work done by the principal and management staff. He is, however, concerned with the back line heading into the season.

"The back line is our major concern as we have lost several players, but the offence is our strength. We have retained Javon Cole, Marcovitch Brown, Kristoff Pringle and others, who can score the goals. It is important to push back the opponents and I think the defensive unit will come together as the season progresses," the coach concluded.

St Catherine is drawn in Group E alongside Excelsior High, Haile Selassie, Oberlin High, Penwood and St Mary's College.

The St Catherine team will host St Mary's College on Monday.