Peart banking on patience and hard work at Glenmuir

The 2022 ISSA/Digicel daCosta Cup is entering the business end of the competition with the final set of preliminary games to be played today ahead of the start of the play-off round.

One team keen on making their mark this season is many-time former champions Glenmuir High, who have found a new lease on life under new coach Andrew Peart.

Many diehard Clarendon fans would hastily remember the Jackie Walters coaching era in the mid-2000s where Glenmuir secured some six titles under the wily veteran, including the schoolboy triple in 2004.

While it took Walters just two seasons to secure the first title, Peart is not perturbed or even pressured for that matter by Glenmuir’s current position.

“The first objective we set at the start was to qualify for the next round which we have not done since 2018, and we have achieved that. The next objective is to top the group, and after that, we will see who we face in the play-off round and then take it step by step from there,” said Peart.

The institution’s last schoolboy title came 10 years ago, and many feel that it is time for Glenmuir to return to being among the best of the best in rural area football.

For Peart, it would not be prudent to be talking about title aspirations just yet, as he is willing to take things stage by stage.

“Everyone has been patient with the team and I will say that this is a much more experienced team from last year, but still a young team. For me, it’s all about patience coupled with hard work, because you need to be competitive and that is all that matters.”

Zone M leaders Glenmuir will go for their seventh victory when they close out the first round away against Denbigh High today, and Peart says he will be looking to fine-tune some areas as he gets ready for the business end of the competition.

“We have been doing well defensively by conceding only three goals so far this season, plus we have pretty much scored in every game. Heading into the next round against tougher opponents, the intensity of our game has to be raised to a higher level and we have to be consistent in our efforts and approach,” Peart said.

Today’s games

Maldon vs St James

Denbigh vs Glenmuir

Winston Jones vs Kemps Hill

All games kick off at 3 p.m.