WHILE many schoolboy football coaches have lamented the lack of discipline from their teams, Jonathan Grant High’s Head Coach Kemeel Wolfe doesn’t face that challenge as his team stopped defending champions Mona High from winning an Inter-secondary Schools Sports Association/Digicel Manning Cup group game for the first time since 2021.

The boys from Spanish Town created one of the upsets of the 2024 season in the urban area competition as they held the hosts to a 1-1 result on Tuesday.

Jonathan Grant thought they were on the way to a famous victory after Saadiq Donegal put them ahead in the opening five minutes. However, a brilliant free kick from Mona’s Captain Dante Peralto on the hour mark ensured the teams shared the points.

After losing their first encounter 0-1 to Mona last month, Wolfe was thrilled to halt the champions’ winning streak.

“We have resilience, we have a never-say-die spirit, and no matter the situation we push through — that is something we instil. No matter the situation, we try to come out on top or the best side of it,” he said.

Jonathan Grant have advanced from the group stage over the last two seasons, and Wolfe believes the boys’ attitude has been commendable.

“To be honest, it’s discipline — on the field and off the field. They’re boys, and I’m not going to say they’re fully disciplined or they’re saints, but we try to instil discipline. Once we have discipline on and off the field, we’ll work and achieve. That’s what our school is all about — we strive for excellence,” he said.

They remain second in Zone B on 11 points, behind leaders Mona on 16, with both currently occupying automatic spots to the second round.

Over the years a quarter-final appearance hasn’t been in the cards for Jonathan Grant but Wolfe says they’re trusting the process.

“I think the lack of experience, focus, and exposure cramps up a lot when we get to the next round. We have tried to let them be a little bit more exposed but it’s a work in progress — and for the next two to three years that’s what we’re working on. We’re getting better; we have our five-year plan and it’s working,” he said.

It was an unusual feeling for Mona who last dropped points in the group stage three years ago to St Catherine.

However, assistant coaches Ricardo Martin and Kyle Butler believe the result would have been different had they been at full strength.

A number of Mona’s regular starters, including Denzel McKenzie and Robino Gordon, were unavailable after playing for Vere Phoenix United in the Wray and Nephew Jamaica Premier League on Sunday.

“We had numerous opportunities to win the game but on another day it would be a different result. Nonetheless, we’re still top of the table and that’s what matters at this stage of the tournament,” said Martin. “I would say I’m pretty happy with the performances of some of the players. Some didn’t play up to the standard we expected of them but it’s something we’ll continue to work on.”

Butler said: “We knew coming into this game we could get a point or even lose. We wanted to make sure all our boys got some playing time, and that’s what we did. Going into the next couple games we know for sure we’ll get three points from all of them, and when our boys are back we can execute our plan much better.”

TUESDAY’S RESULTS

Mona 1, Jonathan Grant 1

Kingston College 7, Penwood 0

Campion 4, Cumberland 0

St Catherine 5, Holy Trinity 1

Waterford 1, Charlie Smith 1

Jose Marti 4, Meadowbrook 0