Bernard praises players as KC ends trophy drought

Photo: Kingston College coach Ludlow Bernard affords himself a smile near the end of the ISSA/FLOW Walker Cup final on Thurdsay. Kingston College defeated Jamaica College 2-0 to lift the trophy for the first time since 2000.

Ludlow Bernard praised his young charges on Thursday night after Kingston College ended their 16 drought without a senior schoolboy football trophy. Not since the year 2000, when they last won the ISSA/FLOW Walker Cup, had KC lifted a trophy at the Under-19 level. Bernard who won the trophy elsewhere on two previous occasions, helped his alma mater to glory as they won the Walker Cup for a record equalling ninth time and brought back joy to the “Purple” side of North Street.

“I really have to lift my hats off to the players who really were very disciplined in their approach. I think we were very meticulous in what we set out to do and I think it worked to a “T”. A lot of the plays that you see JC came with, we expected it and we nullified it and we limited and restricted them to a few shots on target,” Bernard stated.

Though not completely satisfied with the overall midfield performance Bernard had high praises for the resolute defensive showing of his boys.

“I was probably a little bit disappointed with us keeping a little bit more possession in midfield instead of being too direct, but then again we are playing with youngsters and sometimes they tend to get a little bit exuberant, but the part for me that stood out was that we showed our defensive qualities here today. All season we have been showing our strong offensive qualities, today we stood up. Even when Fabian Grant had to come off due to an injury we introduced Rudolph Anderson who hadn’t played for a long, long while and he came in and he stood up very firmly and resolutely in defence to ensure and thwart any efforts that JC were able to come with.”

He dedicated the win to the boys who needed some success after a long and arduous season.

“I am really proud of the boys, it (winning) is for them, it is not so much for me. This is the third time that I am winning this trophy, but for Kingston College it is more important that we come away with a trophy after 16 years and it really augers well for the future.”

Bernard said he knew that they would have the measure of JC if they got the first goal of the game.

“We emphasised from the beginning that we needed to get the first goal. Getting the first goal in these big games is always going to be very important. We knew that if we got the go ahead goal we knew exactly what JC was gonna come with and there in our plan was set into motion. We were gonna cut down on our offensive play and stabilize the midfield. Young Thomas didn’t have his best game today but he really tried and I think it was more of a collaborative effort from all of the players, including (Andre) McCatty who was up front. We asked him for a goal and he delivered the goal in his final game in his final schoolboy season, so we (are) really glad for that.”

Kingston College now has the same number of wins in the Walker Cup as their near neighbours St. Georges College.