Gilbert looks ahead after Excelsior Manning Cup exit

Excelsior High School head coach Xavier Gilbert says that his squad can still find positives despite exiting the ISSA/Digicel Manning Cup football competition at the weekend.

Excelsior were beaten 2-0 by Kingston College in their final quarter-final Group 2 game at Ashenheim Stadium last Saturday.

That result combined with Charlie Smith's 4-1 win over Kingston Technical left them unable to qualify for the competition's final four.

While praising how well his young squad has acquitted itself given the unexpected circumstances of its inclusion in the tournament, Gilbert said that it was Excelsior's naivety that ultimately ended their campaign.

"[It's the] inexperience in terms of when we have the lead, how we manage it, and that has been plaguing us all season," Gilbert said. "But it's a pretty young team and we are going to see how best we can get them going again. I'm proud of them for making it this far. Happy for their achievement thus far. I have to applaud them."

As he got Dinthill Technical to the 2019 DaCosta Cup quarter-finals in fortuitous circumstances under his leadership, Gilbert was hoping to replicate that year's run to the semi-finals with Excelsior, who backdoored their way into the last eight thanks to the expulsion of Camperdown High and Tivoli High.

But Gilbert says that he is grateful for the chance to still compete for silverware in the Walker Cup, with the target now to get to back-to-back finals.

"It's more games and they are getting better," he said. "That's the only thing that is on offer, so we just have to take it and prepare for it. All the other teams are going to prepare for it. We just have to continue managing the players, encourage them, stay positive, and it's part of life and its part of the journey."

Excelsior went to the final in 2019 but were beaten by St Catherine High 3-2. This season's edition of the Walker Cup is scheduled to begin next year, with Excelsior, Mona High, Kingston Technical and reigning champions St Catherine -- all teams eliminated from Manning Cup semi-final contention.