Having gone to the ISSA Manning Cup final last year for the first time in 30 years, coach of St Andrew Technical High School (STATHS) Phillip Williams says his squad is ready to replicate that success and go one step further.

Williams, now in his second year at STATHS, guided them to the final last year where they lost on penalty kicks to many-time champions Jamaica College.

This time around, Williams is quietly confident that his young squad, boosted by the return of captain and national youth and senior team goalkeeper Jeadine White, as well as Tyrese Smith, Jenuin Pinnock, Noel Walker and Steven McQueen will make another deep run.

"We know that with success comes a certain amount of responsibility but we are not worried. We are prepared mentally, physically, technically and tactically. The squad is tight," Williams told The Gleaner during a training session at their Bumper Hall, Spanish Town Road location yesterday.

"Preparation has been going on okay so far. We have played practise games with good results. We have a very young but strong unit with an average age of 17," he shared.

STATHS are drawn in Group A in the preliminary stage alongside many-time champions St George's College, Cumberland, Papine, Tarrant and The Cedar Grove Academy. They will kick off the Digicel-sponsored Manning Cup against Papine next Monday at Bumper Hall.

M. S.