JC want longer reign at top after latest Manning Cup title

Victorious Jamaica College captain Tyrese Small said that the school is poised to have a longer reign at the top of urban schoolboy football after winning their 27th Manning Cup title last Friday at the National Stadium.

The team celebrated their penalty shoot-out victory over St Andrew Technical High School (STATHS) with a special ceremony at the Karl Hendrickson Auditorium on the school compound in front of students, faculty, and alumni. Small said that the structure is in place from the lower levels up to maintain the high standard of success that the school is used to.

"We are going to start over as you can see. New era, new beginnings. The last time we [won it] five years straight. Now I believe we can probably go six, 10," he told Star Sports.

"We have quality same way from Pepsi, Colts, coming up and they will get it done. They can do it."

winning the title

The half decade of dominance from 2013-2017 ended when Kingston College won the title last season. Miguel Coley was at the helm during that title-winning run started in his first season and now has Davion Ferguson for company, equalling his feat of winning the title at the first time of asking.

Small credited the team's mental toughness through the season which saw them overcome massive hurdles from their players being injured in a lightning strike in September to barely qualifying from the quarter-final group with two points.

"We are a historic group. We are the first team that went through from the quarter-finals with only two points and we won. There was a challenge, a lack of goals but we are together, we are a team. So together each[of us] achieves more. We were tested by adversity a lot but we are warriors and we got the job done," he said.

Jamaica College turn their attention to the Olivier Shield final on Saturday against back-to-back daCosta Cup champions Clarendon College and Small says that the team will be ready for the challenge

"There is a time and place for everything. There is a time to get back and relax and refocus and ready to get the job done this Saturday. Myself and the boys will be ready and all we have to do is listen to the coach's instructions once more and go out and execute."