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McGrath seek composure for tough Glenmuir challenge
November 12, 2024
McGrath High School's head coach, Jermaine Thomas, wants his team to play with composure, noting it will equip his players with the confidence to express their full range of skills to win a tough matchup against favourites Glenmuir High School in the quarter-finals of the ISSA/WATA daCosta Cup football competition.
The two, along with St Elizabeth Technical High School (STETHS) and Frome Technical, are battling to earn the top two spots in the group and advance in the title race.
Their match is one of two daCosta Cup games on today, with Central High set to tackle Ocho Rios High in the other contest, a Group 2 affair. The teams are all bunched on one point apiece following first-round matches. Ocho Rios and Munro College battled to a 1-1 finish, while Central High and Garvey Maceo ended 0-0.
Glenmuir High, the most feared team and favourites to win it all, are currently atop Group A with three points. Their thrilling 4-3 comeback against Frome Technical on Saturday pushed Frome to the bottom of the group without a point.
Meanwhile, McGrath are tied on a point with STETHS after their 1-1 draw on Saturday in St Elizabeth. Thomas says they must have fun and he won't be making many adjustments for their 3 p.m. battle against the three-time champions Glenmuir at Glenmuir High School.
"It is about having fun, irrespective of how serious the game might be. It is going to be important for them to really relax, play freely without the pressure and enjoy the game," the coach of the current Ben Francis KO titleholders said.
"It is a Glenmuir team, so you want to be very disciplined and organised. They throw a lot of punches offensively, and they will hurt you if you allow them to. Today, for me it is more mental, psychological and tactical at this stage. I tell the boys to express themselves and be confident," Thomas said.
"Once they internalise it too much then it becomes a problem," he continued. "Some nervousness will be there, but once they allow themselves to play freely without the pressure and can manage and really express themselves, that is what I want."
Andrew Peart, head coach of Glenmuir, reasoned that the team expects and will be ready for a tough challenge against McGrath High.
If Glenmuir win, they would be early qualifiers for the semi-finals, as well as the Flow Champions Cup, while if McGrath were to win, they will climb to the top as group leaders.
"It is two really good teams and we have to ensure that we bring our best game," Peart said.
"We need the right attitude, technical skills and the right mentality to control the game and gain the advantages that we want," he added.
"It is preparing for the defending Ben Francis champions who have retained a lot of their players. Many of those players have gained additional experience by playing other school leagues. If you look at their form this season, they have only lost one game, against Central High," Peart observed.
"The experiences that the leaders of this team have faced are what motivates them. You can see their growth year-by-year, the desire has increased, and that shared mentality, whatever it is, once there is time left in the game, they will fight," he added.
