First major schoolboy trophy for coach Thomas

WHEN MCGRATH High School lifted the ISSA Ben Francis KO title recently it was the first major schoolboy success for the Linstead, St Catherine-based institution and also for coach Jermaine Thomas.

Thomas started his football coaching journey with Rivoli Football Club where he did three years while teaching physical education at St. Jago High where he spent 11 years in that post. "I was learning and developing as a young coach then and where I spent three years at Rivoli before going on to coach at Federal United which participated in the St Catherine Major League," said Thomas. The team reached the semi finals and final in 2015-16.

Thomas was also coach of the St Catherine Sports Max Elite team during 2017-18, while also taking up duties at McGrath High. The McGrath team reached the semifinals of the daCosta Cup competition in 2019 and also in 2021 before winning the Ben Francis title this year.

Thomas is now a physical education lecturer at The Mico University College after gaining his bachelor's degree at the GC Foster College of Sports and his master's at the University of Technology.

Thomas has had some coaching success at the Marescaux Road-based Mico.

"I coached the Mico football team between 2020 and 2022 in the intercollegiate competition. In 2022 the team reached the semifinals of that competition and was victorious in the knockout competition," said Thomas.

Thomas has gained two major appointments recently. He was appointed assistant coach of the Jamaica senior Reggae Girlz team for their last two Gold Cup qualifiers which were played in Jamaica and Guatemala.

Then recently he was also appointed head coach of Jamaica Premier League (JPL) team Molynes United after the sacking of Alex Thomas. In his first match in charge his team lost 1-0 to Tivoli Gardens.

Thomas had experience in the JPL before his recent appointment. He was a member of the Dunbeholden coaching staff in 2022 when they reached the quarterfinals of the JPL and went on to win the St Catherine knockout competition.

Thomas is currently a Concacaf Level 3 coach and coach educator and wants to take the next step in coaching.

"I want to continue to learn more and develop holistically as a coach as I look to inspire and shape young minds," he said.