KINGSTON, Jamaica – For the first time in over a decade, Kingston College (KC) will not be represented in the quarterfinals of the ISSA Manning Cup.

The defending champions relinquished their title meekly after finishing third in their round of 16 group and failing to advance to the last eight for the first time in 12 years.

That disappointment also meant KC will not be contesting the all-island Champions Cup while being relegated to the urban area Walker Cup.

Ironically, it gives KC a rare chance to become the most successful school in the history of the Walker Cup.

KC have won the Walker Cup nine times, the same as St George’s College, but since the controversial change to make it a second-tier competition – for teams that have been eliminated in the second round of the Manning Cup – the ‘Purples’, who last lifted the trophy in 2016, have not competed for the title.

Head coach Vassell Reynold said he was disappointed to have been knocked out of the Manning Cup, but will have a go at the Walker Cup.

“Having started the competition as the defending champions and to have given the preparation our best shot as a coaching staff, clearly we have to feel somewhat disappointed,” he told the Jamaica Observer.

“The fact of the matter, though, is that we would have lost at least seven of our regular starters from last year’s team who would have been hard to replace. However, we had a core of players we felt had sufficient experience and we would give it our best shot to at least reach the quarter finals,” he explained.

“When you look at the overall stats, just losing 1-0 to Hydel, the only loss of the season, and drawing two games, we thought the team did fairly well,” he noted.

“I don’t think we gave a good enough consistent performance at the critical stage of the competition, largely because we had been chopping and changing our squad due to several circumstances.

“We lost at least six to seven players of the past several weeks, including our two starting CBs, so it was very difficult for us to get going,” said Reynolds.

KC were visibly weak at the back, missing the towering 16-year-old Jaeshawn Edwards, who is on trials in Dubai. He scored the opening goal in the 202 final.

KC were also without the tough-tackling left back Rajae Ximines, who Reynolds said walked out of the football programme. Ximines has since been invited to the national under-20 training camp.

The school last won the Walker Cup in 2016, which was a signal that they were on their way back after a long drought. They went on to win the Manning Cup in 2018, the first time in nearly 30 years.

Since then, they have been perennial contenders, winning two more Manning Cups and were all-island champions last year, having won the Olivier Shield.

Stepping down to the Walker Cup will take some motivation but Coach Reynolds is ready.

“We feel, having not won the Walker Cup since 2016, that can be something to motivate ourselves and look forward to achieving,” said Reynolds.

KC will face St Jago next Wednesday, as the Walker Cup kicks off with four games. Joint nine-time winner St George’s College will meet last year’s champion Mona High; St Catherine High take on Campion College and Tivoli Gardens play Wolmer’s Boys.