Photo: Kingston College head coach Ludlow Bernard says “We are coming to play for a win on Saturday,” as his team faces of with defending Manning Cup champions Jamaica College in their final match in the quarter final round of the competition. JC have already qualified for the semi-final and KC need only a draw to do the same.
On Saturday Kingston College will play their final game in the quarter final round of the ISSA/FLOW Manning Cup needing a point to guarantee qualification for the semi-final round of the competition. Standing in their way are defending champions Jamaica College who have already advanced with six points from two wins. But while a draw is good enough for KC, their coach Ludlow Bernard wants a win.
“We are coming to play for a win on Saturday,” he declared, after his team defeated Bridgeport High 3-0 at the Spanish Town Prison Oval on Tuesday.
Both KC and Calabar are hunting the second qualification spot from Group I with KC in poll position. Calabar has a single point after drawing 1-1 with KC last Saturday before losing to JC on Tuesday.
Calabar will be hoping that KC loses to JC while defeating the already out of contention Bridgeport High by a handsome margin. It may be a difficult task for the boys from Red Hills Road however as Garnett Lawrence has promised a strong finish from his team.
“We are not going to go into any game and take it easy, we are going to finish strong,” Lawrence told reporters after the loss to KC.
To avoid any complications however, the Purples need to take care of their own business and Bernard knows just who can get the job done for his team.
Bernard is looking for his main attacking midfielder and also his wingers to do a good job this weekend.
“It is important for Renato Campbell to perform, he is the pivot of the midfield so he is the one that really has to pull the strings for us.”
“We are also looking for our wide people to take on the opponents, (because) they have the ability,” he added.
Like he did last season, Rashwan Mackison has led the scoring for Kingston College and Bernard is pleased with how well the player had adapted to his role as the central striker.
“Rashwan doesn’t particularly like playing centre forward, but he says he has to do it for the team and he has been delivering even in his not so favourable position. He recognizes that he has players that can support him and do the work for him in the middle and give him his supplies. The good thing is that he is able to keep good possession and make passes into the other players,” Bernard stated.
Jamaica College are a tough nut to crack and boast an impressive unbeaten record, things not lost on the KC coach.
“We are gonna have to plan for how we are going to approach that game, because Jamaica College has a proud record to defend and I know they are going to try to come and defend it on Saturday. We, at the same time, want to continue making our statement and our resurgence in this competition.”
The tactics employed to defeat their nemesis the last time the two teams met will still be fresh in the mind of the coach who has won the Walker Cup on several occasions but has yet to taste victory in the all important Manning Cup. He is certain to draw on some of those tactics for this all important game.
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