Coaches support schoolboy football changes

Several coaches have signalled overwhelming support for format changes to the 2026 schoolboy football season, believing the adjustments bring improvements for players and fans alike.

ISSA president Keith Wellington confirmed a host of changes for the Manning Cup, daCosta Cup, Walker Cup, and Ben Francis Cup competitions ahead of the upcoming season.

The Manning and daCosta Cups will see unseeded teams open their campaign in the first round of the competition, while 16 seeded teams will enter their respective competitions in the second round.

The Walker Cup and Ben Francis Cup knockout competitions have also undergone changes, with the competitions now open to every school, rather than teams that failed to advance past the second round.

Andrew Price, technical director of St George’s College (STGC), welcomed the changes, saying they will help in player development as it ensures a more balanced competition and less lopsided fixtures.

“I support the changes and I believe that we need to level the playing field. There have been situations where teams play other schools and get defeated badly and it doesn’t help development or the morale for the players,” Price explained.

“Once you have those teams coming in to play the first round and then the best out of that, let those teams play with the seeded teams and you have a more balanced competition. We want to develop players at this level and the only way to develop them is to let them enjoy the game and play amongst their peers,” said Price

His words were echoed by Omar ‘Rambo’ Wedderburn, head coach of defending daCosta Cup champions St Elizabeth Technical High (STETHS).

Wedderburn said for years fans have complained about first-round games where small teams were crushed by much better opponents.

He explained that lopsided results have also demoralised players and discouraged several schools from entering the competition.

“The changes are good because in the previous years, we have complained about some of the schools not putting up any challenge and you hear some ridiculous scorelines,” Wedderburn said.

“Then you have spectators always complaining about it. Sometimes the school itself that you score a certain number of goals against them and the next year they don’t enter, so I think the changes are good.”

NO MORE LOSERS’ CUP

Wedderburn is also in support of the changes to the Walker Cup and Ben Francis Cup competitions.

He said by opening the competition to all teams, it returns the prestige to the knockout competitions and allows for teams to vie for multiple trophies once again.

“Honestly, this is the way that I’m used to the Ben Francis Cup back in my earlier years where you could win the Ben Francis Cup and then the daCosta Cup,” he said.

“I’ve seen people complaining about the Ben Francis Cup, calling it the ‘Losers’ Cup’ and you know, I really glad it’s set this way now because the majority of the teams that called it the ‘Losers’ Cup’ never win it before,” Wedderburn continued.

“Now it’s open to everybody again to really play and win this Ben Francis Cup, so I am curious and I’ll be listening for the new names for the Ben Francis Cup.”

But while Price and Wedderburn will be coaching seeded teams in the Manning and daCosta Cup, Sean Fraser, head coach of Hillel Academy, will enter the competition as an unseeded team.

Hillel made their Manning Cup debut last year and enjoyed a moderately successful season despite not advancing to the second round.

The highlight of their debut season came in a 9-1 win over Pembroke Hall, their largest margin of victory.

Fraser said he has no issues with the changes and believes it will actually benefit his players.

He explained with only unseeded teams playing in the first round, it ensures players are able to enjoy their time on the field without the pressure of competing against far better opponents.

He also said this will only help their development, while rewarding schools that are ready to compete against the top teams by giving them the chance in the second round.

“Personally, I have no issue with it and I think it’s good. It’s good development for the kids, especially knowing that you will get more game time if you qualify for the next round,” he said.

“What it does, however, is put most of the teams who are on the same level to compete against each other rather than when you play against a KC, JC and Wolmer’s, who are far superior than the new teams. So for me, personally, I have no issue with it whatsoever.”

gregory.bryce@gleanerjm.com