We have work to do - Waite calls for consistency from Charlie Smith charges

Despite his team’s massive come-from-behind victory over St Catherine High in the second round of the ISSA/Digicel Manning Cup, Jerome Waite coach of Charlie Smith, said they still have a long way to go before they reach their best.

Charlie Smith were beaten 3-1 by St Catherine in the first leg. However, they produced a scintillating performance to win the return game 4-1, for a 5-4 aggregate victory on Saturday, to secure their spot in the quarter-finals.

The Trench Town-based institution have been drawn in Group H, alongside Kingston College, St George’s College and Camperdown. The top two teams from the group will advance to the semi-finals.

Waite, who has been coaching at the school for over two decades, said his team has been hampered by injuries this season, but he remains optimistic that they will put on a good showing in the next round.   

“We still have to take the games one step at a time because this is the quarter-finals round and hopefully, we can move into the top two,” said Waite. “We are not going to get carried away, but we are taking it one step at a time." 

"The team back was against the wall and they were able to rise above expectations,” Waite continued.

Charlie Smith were knocked out at the second round stage by eventual champions Jamaica College last year, and Waite pointed out that his players will have to show a lot more consistency, if they are to go further in the competition this year.

“They still have a lot of work to do because they need to show consistency. It is not to play hot and cold, because now is the time for the big boys and it is not going to be a walker over, it will be hard work,” said Waite. 

"We have to take each game one step at a time because schoolboy football is unpredictable and on the day, you turn up and you performed and the next day, you don’t perform,” he said.