KC’s Watson looking to top Manning Cup ‘group of death’
Kingston College’s new Head Coach Raymond “Stampy” Watson is looking forward to the task of leading a relatively new team in the title defence of the Inter-secondary Schools Sports Association (ISSA)/Digicel Manning Cup which they won in January.
With the 2021-2022 season spanning two semesters, the first time in the history of the competition, two champions will be crowned in the same calendar year and Watson cannot wait to get going.
KC’s defence will begin against rivals Calabar High who will also boast a new head coach in Andrew Price.
Watson is eager to match wits with the well-known Premier League coach.
“I am feeling very excited. The youngsters have been ensuring that they are learning and they are coming together nicely as a group and I can’t wait until Saturday. I’m really looking forward to Saturday,” he said.
The encounter, which starts at 5:00 pm, will be the second match of a triple header inside Sabina Park.
“I am looking for fast, attacking, good-quality football from the boys, goals, and three points. I am very confident of victory,” he continued.
Watson was assistant coach to Ludlow Bernard during a very successful period in the school’s history, during which they won six titles in five seasons. He has seen it all and knows the type of expectations that come with leading the “Purples”.
He says that he is ready to lead the transitioning team for a school that has high expectations.
“People always mention the word pressure. I laugh, I live for these moments. When the going gets rough, I live for these moments.
“Whenever KC is in difficult situations, that’s when I get going. I appreciate these moments. These are the moments that I really want to be in. I’m always smiling. I just take it as it come and I know that there are always difficult situations, especially being inside Kingston College, you will encounter difficult situations. It’s nothing to me,” he said.
In addition to the difficult opening day encounter against Calabar High, KC will also face North Street rivals St George’s College (STGC) in what many have deemed the group of death in the Manning Cup.
A calm and assured Watson said that he is looking to not only qualify for the next round but to do so as the table topper of Zone A.
“This term ‘group of death’ — we are Kingston College, we are not dying. We are here to live. We have a target, first and foremost of getting out of the first round and especially being on top of the group,” he stated.
Many Manning Cup fans have already marked their calendar for the first battle of the North Street giants between KC and St George’s which is to take place at Winchester Park on Saturday, September 24.
— Dwayne Richards