Jamaica College (JC) became the second team into the semi-final of the ISSA/Wata Manning Cup, but Head Coach Raymond Watson says that if they don’t make it to the final, the season would be deemed a failure.

JC are the only unbeaten team left in schoolboy football — both Manning and daCosta Cup. They have banged in 65 goals while conceding only three times in 14 games for the most impressive record.

“Now we have come to realise that whatever you do now, whatever you do even in the semi-final, if you don’t get to the final, it goes for nothing,” Watson told the Jamaica Observer. “Nobody remembers anything. So, we still have to keep grounded. You can just have one bad game and there goes your season.”

With the last two Manning Cup champions, Mona High and Kingston College, eliminated from the second round, JC are now the howling favourites to a record 30 titles.

“We are trying to stay within ourselves. Nothing changed, no excitement. So, we’re trying to take it one step at a time,” Watson reiterated.

“Definitely, we’re confident we can go all the way, but we’re just taking it one game at a time and analyse each game and each opponent and just trying to look within ourselves and be within ourselves and believe in ourselves.”

JC will next be in action against Hydel High, having already booked their spot in the semis and more importantly, they will be in the all-island Champions Cup.

JC have not won the Manning Cup or the Champions Cup since 2022, but based on the strength of their team, the triple including the Olivier Shield is very much a possibility.