Football turnaround lifting confidence at Knockalva

Western Bureau:

Coach of Knockalva Technical High School, Dwaine Humphrey, is hoping that the turnaround in the football programme at the school will help to lift the confidence of his players.

Yesterday, Knockalva registered their third consecutive 1-1 draw in the 2018 ISSA/WATA daCosta Cup, from as many games. Two years ago the school conceded as many as 47 goals during the season and failed to gain a point.

Shewayne Barton gave Petersfield High the lead in the 22nd minute of yesterday's match but Chad Johnson got the equaliser for Knockalva in the fifth minute of stoppage time in a match played at the Knockalva playfield.

"If the team manages to reach the second round it will not only change the landscape of football in the school but also the general mindset of the students," said Humphrey who is in his second season at the school.

Humphrey, who believes the zone is still wide open, said yesterday's showing was their worst performance in three matches so far and so they are happy for the point.

"I am proud of these guys. Based on what we have done already, this is far from our best performance but at the end of the day, we will take the point. We never gave up, we dug deep and fought gallantly to get back a goal at the end. I believe this is what champions are made of. When the chips are down you don't drop your head and get a point even on your bad day," said Humphrey who is also a member of Montego Bay United youth coaching staff.

Yesterday's daCosta Cup results

Knockalva 1 Petersfield 1

Little London 4 Belmont Academy 0

Carron Hall High 0 St Mary Tech 1