JC set sights on sweep of schoolboy titles

Head coach of Jamaica College’s (JC) Manning Cup team, Davion Ferguson, says his team is aiming to win all the titles on offer this season.

“This year is no different, we always play to win,” Ferguson told The Gleaner.

He noted, however, that “nothing is given, everything is earned” and JC will be taking a step-by-step approach in Group B.

“I don’t take the group lightly. I believe that we have to go out there and put down our performances to really show that we are worthy to be group winners,” he said. “Personally, I would say I am very strong mentally, (and) the team, I think we have a very strong mindset. In our minds we are champions, and we prepare like that and we try to deliver as best as possible.”

He said the inexperience of his squad last year played a part in the team losing the title match 5-4 on penalties to Kingston College.

“Last year, I had a group which was mainly players who were playing their first season of Manning Cup. It was really an experience for us, and I believe that that experience should help us this year to really give a better account of ourselves. I am still proud of them in terms of the effort that they gave, and it’s no shame actually losing a Manning Cup final, especially on penalties,” he said.

However, Ferguson said the preparations for this season were much better, so they are hoping to improve on last year’s placing,

“Last year, the preparation period heading into the competition was probably one of the worst I’ve ever seen or ever presided over. The COVID-19 pandemic made the preparations a bit challenging. This season the preparation is a lot better. We had more time, we had more opportunities to try stuff that we wouldn’t have been able to do last year,” the JC coach said.

He said he was able to form a rounded group for this season.

“We have players in our group who have experience now at the Manning Cup level and also internationally. I think we have a very rounded group,” Ferguson said.

The JC coach said he is also excited about giving new members of the squad the opportunity to showcase their talents.

“I am always excited about people on a whole getting opportunities in life. For some of these kids, this is a passport or a gateway to their future, so I take it very seriously,” he said. “However, I don’t believe in just giving an opportunity to someone just because they need an opportunity. You have to deserve that opportunity. We have a group of players who deserve the opportunity, and they are working each and every day very diligently to really maximise this opportunity when it comes.”

JC play their first match today at home against St Mary’s College at 3:30 p.m.