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Walters seeks last hurrah
December 06, 2024
St Catherine High School captain Romaine Walters will be hoping he can close out his ISSA Manning Cup career by guiding his team to their first-ever title when they face off against Kingston College (KC) in the final today at the National Stadium.
The match is set to kick off at 6:15 p.m. and will be the second match of a doubleheader as Mona High and Excelsior High will contest the Walker Cup final at 3 p.m.
Walters, who also stands as the team's stalwart defender, is confident he will be on hand to lift the coveted trophy at the end of 90 minutes against KC.
"I am confident. We know what we have to do and it's in all the training that we have put in from before. We just have to go out there and play to our best," he affirmed.
"We know the quality that we have in this team and we certainly know how to play football. We're not going to just back down because of a school's history. We just have to go out there and know that from we play to our best, we'll match any of the teams coming."
Walters was instrumental is seeing St Catherine through to finals as he scored a penalty against Jamaica College (JC) in regulation time of their semi-final.
He stepped up big yet again in the resulting penalty shootout, scoring the opening goal as St Catherine went on to win 5-3.
He said as the team's leader it is his job to lead from the front, despite the high pressure situation.
"Definitely, the pressure comes with it but you just have to know how to control your emotions and get the team over the line because you are in charge."
Walters is hoping to write his name in the history books as captain of the first team to carry schoolboy football glory back to the school.
They also stand the chance of being the second team from the parish to win the Manning Cup, as the only St Catherine-based school to date to have won the title is Bridgeport High, in 2001 and 2006.
"We want to remain making history for the school and it would be the first time for the school to lift the Manning Cup title. I'd love to be a part of that history, knowing that it is the first time the team is lifting the Manning Cup title," Walters said.
St Catherine Vice-Principal, Errol Martin, says the team's history-making campaign has brought excitement throughout the school community, stating several school alumni have made calls congratulating the team on their run to the finals.
Martin applauded the team for their success and is hopeful of a win against KC.
"The community is going to get abuzz, the school community is going to get abuzz, it's going to be happening all over the place," he stated.
"I'm excited because this is a great boost for the school, but just thinking about the match and what may happen and the possibilities, I must say I'm a little nervous. I want the boys to win. I want the boys to do well. They have worked hard, they have given it their all and we're just praying for the best."
