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Spanish Town coach knocks players’ individualism
October 10, 2023
Spanish Town High School coach, Andrew Hines, blames the individualistic tendencies of his players for being a vital part of their poor showing in the ISSA/Digicel Manning Cup schoolboy football competition so far this season.
The St Catherine-based Spanish Town went down 4-0 to Group B leaders Tivoli Gardens Comprehensive High yesterday at the Spanish Prison Oval to stay fourth in the group on five points from six matches.
"The individual errors," Hines lamented, as a reason for their loss. "The first goal, when you look at the first touch, it was so bad the ball went about a metre away (from the player), and the second goal, you had persons dribbling in the middle of the park and not applying the first press when we lose the ball, as we trained every day so that creates issues.
"So it's the individual thing, and we just have to get together as a team and let go of the individualism, and we can get it right," he said.
Tivoli went in front after 15 minutes through Daniel Watson's strike. Shacquwell Henry made it 2-0 three minutes later, and Ryan-Oneil Francis made it 3-0 with a header just before halftime.
Spanish Town came into their own in the second period but wasted opportunities to reduce the score.
Henry tapped home a loose ball from six yards to seal the win.
Hines said their profligacy in front of the goal is another major factor in their underwhelming results.
"When you get your opportunities and don't put them away, to put them (Tivoli) under pressure, you tend to lose the game.
"When placed them under pressure, we didn't capitalise in the final third. It is something we can work on. We are young. We have to work on it and get it good for next year," he said.
Tivoli are on 16 points and lead the group ahead of Kingston Technical High School on 12 and Jamaica College (JC) on nine, but JC have played two games less.
Tivoli's coach, Christopher Nicholas, was pleased with the performance of his players.
"As we progress, we are getting better and better. That is what I have been expecting, and it's coming to pass. Honestly, I feel proud of these boys," Nicholas said.
