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Manning Cup coaches concerned about congested schedule amid delays
November 05, 2024
Following the decision by the Inter-Secondary School Sports Association (ISSA) to delay the Manning Cup quarterfinals due to the tropical depression, schoolboy football coaches are concerned about a congested schedule for the remainder of the season.
The quarterfinals, which were slated to begin today, have been postponed until tomorrow due to the tropical depression expected to affect the island throughout the day.
ISSA confirmed the decision in a statement yesterday, which related to all schoolboy football competitions.
"All daCosta and Manning Cup matches that were scheduled for Tuesday, will now be played on Wednesday, November 6. The updated schedule for all competitions will be posted by later today," the statement read.
Kingston College head coach Vassell Reynolds said he supported the decision as it took the player's safety as first priority.
However, he was concerned the delays could have an effect on scheduling for the rest of the season.
"The schools are taking precautionary measures and the country is on alert so I am in full support of the decision," he said. "I can understand from their point of view but we have to hope that this does not impact the schedule.
"We have to remember these youngsters are training for five days a week, then they're playing three games a week and then they also have to focus on going home, getting their home work done and come back to school early in the morning to focus in class."
Reynolds says with frequent delays in fixtures this season caused by inclement weather, he is concerned about the number of games players have to contest in a short time span.
He suggested ISSA could look into extending the season into January to afford the players more days of rest between matches, and allow the association more room to reschedule matches due to delays.
Hydel High head coach Devon Anderson also voiced his support of an extension into January.
He said this is not a new idea as coaches have been vocal regarding an extension. However, he is pessimistic of any change in the competition's calendar.
"I've been in (the) Manning Cup for decades and I know it is not going to happen even though we have shared the idea," he said.
"The schedule has been cramped and we have to face that reality. It is not a far-fetched thing to do because myself and the other coaches have suggested it, but we know that it will probably never happen," Anderson stated.
Anderson is one of the coaches who had been heavily impacted by delays this season, as Hydel had two of their first-round games postponed due to heavy rain.
He is no stranger to the impact a match delay can have on his team and is wary of any further fixture changes.
"The two games that we lost in the first round were games that had been delayed for almost a week and that had a great impact on us. Mentally we were ready and then the next morning we heard there is no game," Anderson shared.
"But ISSA is ultimately looking out for the kids and I can't blame the organisers for that (postponing today's matches)," he added.
