‘I think they can do it’

ANTHONY PATRICK, an experienced schoolboy football coach, said he is more than ready to make his ISSA Champions Cup managerial debut this season with St Catherine High, who, like him, will also be making their first appearance in the prestigious knockout competition.

St Catherine booked their spot in the Champions Cup by virtue of making the final four in the ISSA Manning Cup with a second-place finish in Group B of the quarter-final round.

Patrick was an elated figure on the touchline and said his players were well-deserving of their success after just missing out on a semifinal spot last year.

The team had been eliminated in the quarter-final round during the 2023 season after finishing third in their group on goal difference.

“We came very close to achieving it last season and it has finally happened for us this year, so I am really happy about that,” he stated.

Qualification to the Champions Cup is also a major achievement for Patrick as, despite a storied career, he had yet to make it into the competition.

He has won six schoolboy football titles throughout his career, which include leading Bridgeport High to two Manning Cup titles in 2001 and 2006.

However, since the Champions Cup – then named the FLOW Super Cup – inception in 2014, Patrick had failed to qualify.

Confidence in his players

“I’m very happy for myself also. This is my first time reaching the Champions Cup although I have achieved so much at the schoolboy level with Bridgeport. When the Champions Cup came into play, I never got that opportunity,” he explained.

“I must say kudos to the youngsters who have really given me this opportunity to coach in the Champions Cup and have given themselves the opportunity to play in the Manning Cup semifinals.”

Patrick is confident his players can challenge for both the Manning and Champions Cup titles and said it would be a monumental win for both the school and the parish of St Catherine if they end the season with a trophy.

To date, Patrick has been the only coach to bring silverware back to the parish with his time as head coach at Bridgeport and St Catherine.

“The only Manning Cup titles that went to the parish is in 2001 and 2006 with Bridgeport when I was at the helm, so definitely I’d want to do it for St Catherine High School as well,” he stated.

“I think they can do it. They have been fighting from the start of the season and I must lift my hat to them for that. As I’ve said, we are very limited in numbers but they kept fighting and we’ve reached this far, so I must say kudos to them.”

St Catherine High will know their first opponent in the Champions Cup at this evening’s draw at Digicel’s head office in downtown Kingston at 6:30.

gregory.bryce@gleanerjm.com