Charlie Smith aiming to surprise JC

Charlie Smith High School head coach Eugene Williams says that their resilience throughout a difficult season put them in the ideal situation to claim a spot in the ISSA/Digicel Manning Cup final.

Charlie Smith will face defending champions Jamaica College (JC) in their semi-final encounter at the Stadium East field at 1 p.m. today, hoping to continue their quest for their first title since 1995.

Charlie Smith have been tested throughout the year. After their opening quarter-final loss to Kingston College, where Williams was left frustrated with the officiating, Charlie Smith responded, winning their last two games to secure their semi-final spot.

Williams says that the team’s response to each setback has made them stronger and has been the reason for their improvement in the competition.

“These guys have been through a lot and people always write us off, but they have always risen to the occasion. Now, I think there is more cohesion, they are getting more seasoned because the more games they play is the better they look,” Williams told The Gleaner.

JC head coach Davion Ferguson said that Williams’ team has got stronger since their last meeting on November 20, with a 2-0 win for the ‘Dark Blues’ in the first round.

“We have played them earlier on this season but they have improved massively since I saw them. If I identify the weaknesses or the strengths, I think they might adjust and it might put us at a disadvantage, but I can tell you that I know that they will be prepared,” Ferguson said. “We won’t be taking this Charlie Smith team lightly. I know that they will be gunning for a place in the final and they will come and play hard.”

Williams said that his team has benefited from the knockout football mentality that they have adopted throughout this season, citing improvements in their discipline which, he acknowledged, was a major concern in the early stages. Williams said that they are concentrating on how they play as they chase the success that he enjoyed as captain, when he lifted the championship trophy in 1988.

“We know that JC are formidable opponents. We know what they are capable of, and they know what we are capable of. It is not the first time that they have put us down, so we just know that we have to rise,” Williams said. “We have to prepare to win, and that is what we are here to do.”

Meanwhile, Kingston College will face St Andrew Technical High School (STATHS) in the second game of the double-header at 3:15 p.m. STATHS head coach Philip Williams said that the extra days of rest could give them an advantage as their opponents played last Saturday in the Champions Cup semi-finals.

“I don’t think us not playing competitive football is an advantage, but we were happy for the rest in terms of players with injuries getting time to heal,” Williams said. STATHS goalscorer Omar Laing is among the players that Williams said were ‘carrying knocks’, but is expected to be fit to play.

daniel.wheeler@gleanerjm.com

Manning Cup semi-final fixtures - Stadium East

Jamaica College vs Charlie Smith - 1:00 p.m

Kingston College vs St Andrew Technical High - 3:15 p.m