WHEN Craig Butler made the decision to oversee Mona High’s Manning Cup team in 2021, many felt he wouldn’t be successful due to his inexperience at that level. However, the Phoenix Academy Boss proved his critics wrong after leading the school to its first-ever title.

Last Friday evening at the National Stadium, Demarion Harris’s goal gave Mona a 1-0 win over second-time finalists Hydel.

Prior to Butler’s arrival two years ago, challenging for the title seemed like a pipe dream. But after guiding the team to a rare quarter-final appearance, then their first semi-final in 2022, he took them to the pinnacle in just three seasons.

A philosophical Butler told the Jamaica Observer he wasn’t surprised that he was able to make Mona the urban area champions.

“It’s about football education. I spent a lot of time learning, and it’s about knowing your nation, your strengths as a nation, exploiting, developing and using them on the pitch,” he said.

“They say: ‘The proof of the pudding is in the eating’ and [the Bible] says, ‘Show me your faith without your works and I shall show you my faith by my works.’ It’s not what happens to a man but it’s what a man does with what happens to him. I’m so proud of everyone in this team, so proud of the whole family.” Butler added.

Butler, though, may not have the chance to repeat the achievement as he says he will give up coaching duties at the end of the season. Though he’s made that claim in the past he says he’s not in the physical condition to continue.

“It means a great deal to me; it’s my last year in high school football and I have to focus on my players outside. I came back because we had unfinished business but my health is not in the best place right now,” he said.

The Phoenix Academy founder and owner plans to turn his attention solely to being a players’ manager, as he already does with the likes of Reggae Boyz Leon Bailey and Dujuan “Whisper” Richards.

“I think it’s time I just focus on the managerial side of the players because they’ve reached that stage where they’re moving into pro contracts. I just need to ensure that Leon, Whisper, Kemar Reid, and all of those younger players leaving like Dante Peralto and those that are in Belgium, get the full support and attention that they need because sometimes you have to be present, not only in a physical way, but making sure they get what they need because it’s a short career,” he said.

Butler says he’ll have no regrets walking away from coaching because he’s paid his dues to the sport locally.

“I don’t want to coach anymore. I’ll do the managerial work and the agency work but the coaching of football, I think I’ve done enough for the country. I’ve paid back probably 10 times over what was given to me as a young player by Mark Mendel, Jimmy Sinclair, David “Wagga” Hunt, Bradley Stewart, Winston Chung Fah,” he said.

However, according to Butler, the Mona programme isn’t expected to fall by the wayside with his absence from the sidelines.

“We’ve made sure we’re passing on; we have a good succession plan. As you realise, my daughter Kaycie is a 51 per cent shareholder in Phoenix and we have a good, strong team in place to replace me after I’m gone. The systems will be there, the methodology will be there, the coaching will be there,” he said.

If it truly is his last hurrah as a coach he will have a chance to claim one more title when Mona battles daCosta Cup champions Clarendon College in the Olivier Shield final on Wednesday.

— Daniel Blake