‘Nothing else to prove’: Butler says he’s done with schoolboy football after this season
KINGSTON, Jamaica – Craig Butler, head coach at Mona High, says he will step away from schoolboy football at the end of the season to focus on his football academy.
The Phoenix Academy founder believes he has accomplished what he had set about to achieve when he accepted the head coaching job at Mona last year.
“I entered the Manning Cup to make a statement for Jamaica to see that there is a system and that we need to play as a nation. I have shown what that system is and how effective it can be,” Butler told OBSERVER ONLINE.
The Butler-coached Mona High have emerged as one of the favourites to win the ISSA/Digicel Manning Cup competition this season, after finishing at the top of Group E with 30 points. The St Andrew-based school remain unbeaten after a 2-0 victory over Tivoli Gardens in the second round on Tuesday.
However, Butler feels he has nothing else to prove and said he will turn his focus to his Phoenix Academy players and those who are already in the professional ranks. He added that he will look to have some of the Phoenix players who are currently in the schoolboy system to play in professional leagues in Europe or North America, or further their development in college.
“That was always the plan. They’re [players] are almost 18 and they want to be professionals, so we’re gonna be moving them overseas now to different clubs after the Manning Cup is done,” Butler told OBSERVER ONLINE.
“So, my point has been made and I am now looking forward to going back to my managerial role, taking care of my players like Leon Bailey, Kyle Butler and those who need me to negotiate and advocate on their behalf.
“They were all developed to be professional players, and, so, we’re looking at the options for them. Some will go on to play professionally in Europe, some will go on to play in the MLS, and some will go to college. So, it’s very important to me,” he said.
Butler had previously stated that he would step away from schoolboy football at the end of last season –after Mona High had been disqualified from the Walker Cup competition for allegedly fielding two ineligible players in a semi-final match – but returned to the sidelines after an apparent change of heart.
