Coaches wary of hectic schedule after Manning Cup delays

WITH THE nation under a tropical storm warning, the Inter-Secondary School Sports Association’s (ISSA’s) decision to postpone the quarter-finals of the ISSA Manning Cup has drawn concern from schoolboy football coaches over playing several games in a limited time.

The quarter-finals, which were scheduled to have kicked off today, have been postponed until tomorrow because of a tropical storm, expected to affect the island today.

Match delays caused by inclement weather have been the order of the day throughout this season, with several first-round games postponed because of heavy rain or water-logged fields.

Devon Anderson, head coach of Hydel High, is no stranger to this feeling, as Hydel had two of their first-round games delayed because of the weather.

Anderson said while he supports the caution practised by ISSA in ensuring the players’ safety, he is concerned how this could impact the schedule for the remainder of the season.

“Most definitely, I am concerned because of what had happened to us in the first round,” Anderson said.

“The two games that we lost in the first round were games that had been delayed for almost a week, and that has had a great impact on us. Mentally, we were ready and then the next morning we heard there is no game.

“But ISSA is ultimately looking out for the kids and I can’t blame the organisers for that. Things have to be put in place for the worst-case scenario. I can understand the decision, even if we want the games to go on on time and on schedule,” he added.

Anderson is concerned the delays will result in his players being forced to play a large number of games in a short time span, in order for the competition to remain on schedule.

This is a concern shared by Kingston College (KC) head coach Vassell Reynolds, who said his team has already been affected by a hectic schedule of fixtures this season.

“If we counted the game that we would have played if it wasn’t pushed back, then that would have been our fourth game in about 10 days, and it is very difficult on the boys,” he explained.

“It is something that we knew would have happened, so I am just hoping all stakeholders can find a way to spread the games, if possible.”

He continued, “We have to remember these youngsters are training for five days a week, then they’re playing three games a week and then they also have to focus on going home, getting their homework done, and come back to school early in the morning to focus in class.”

Both Anderson and Reynolds believe a possible solution to their concerns would be for ISSA to schedule the schoolboy football season to end in January.

Reynolds suggested a break during the Christmas holidays before the season’s resumption in January could provide more rest days for players and allow ISSA more room in scheduling their competitions.

gregory.bryce@gleanerjm.com