Former Kingston College (KC) Head Coach Raymond “Stampy” Watson has joined rivals Jamaica College (JC) as the assistant coach for the upcoming Inter-Secondary Schools Sports Association (ISSA) schoolboy football season.

Davion Ferguson, head coach of urban area Manning Cup champions JC, told the Jamaica Observer that Watson is the perfect individual to fill that void.

“I have been without an assistant because I chose to and not because we didn’t have options. We weren’t interested in those persons, but we believe that Raymond Watson is the right person now,” said Ferguson.

“He is an experienced coach at this level in terms of youth football and he has a vast amount of experience and any programme that has Raymond Watson in it is a programme that he can add value to. I think him being at Jamaica College is definitely somebody that adds value to what we already have,” Ferguson said.

Watson, a KC Old Boy, spent one year as head coach of the North Street-based institution after taking over the position from Ludlow Barnard in 2022.

This, after Bernard led KC to the urban area Manning Cup title in the prior campaign.

Under Watson’s leadership last season, KC made it to the final of the all-island Champions Cup and semi-finals of the Manning Cup.

Ferguson said he is unbothered by any possible Watson backlash from KC supporters because Jermaine Miller, who is now the assistant coach at KC, had previously served in the same capacity at JC.

“No, there shouldn’t be any issue because the assistant coach of Kingston College last season and this season was actually my assistant coach for years,” he said.

“He was with me at St Jago, GC Foster College and he was also with me at Jamaica College, so I think we have had exchanges and we have had coaches moving for various reasons to either institution and so I don’t think that it is much of issue for us,” Ferguson stated.

“I know that others will make it out as an issue, but for us we just look at the person and what the person can offer and if the person is a good fit to what we already have and Raymond Watson is such [a person],” he added.

JC won their 31st hold on the Manning Cup trophy last season and Ferguson pointed out that they are looking forward to another great season this year.

“I think every season Jamaica College is looking to do well. We are quietly preparing as always and as I said every year it’s basically the same. We try to give our best and if that results in us winning the championship, kudos to us. But once we give our best and even if we fall short then that is something that we can accept.

“However, we always try to give our best and to fight for that badge of Jamaica College and that is what we will do for the upcoming season,” Ferguson explained.

— Robert Bailey