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Butler believes non-traditional schools win
December 05, 2023
Enigmatic Mona High School ISSA/Digicel Manning Cup coach Craig Butler assesses that his charges playing against Hydel in the final of the competition is a win for non-traditional schools, who he believes are often considered by some as incapable of reaching the pinnacle.
Mona are into their first Manning Cup decider, with Hydel in their second, never having the distinction of lifting the Corporate Area schoolboy football title after losing to St George's College in 2012.
However, with two non-traditional institutions in the final, new champions will be crowned. Butler hopes other non-traditional schools are inspired by both teams' accomplishments and start working harder while believing in themselves.
"It (to win) would be great and not only for Mona as a school, but the whole concept of traditional versus non-traditional school.
"For me, there is no difference. A school is a school, and people are people. If you work and train hard, stick to your plans and believe in your dreams, they will come through," Butler contends.
"Whether we win this final, to me, it is not here nor there. Yes, I want my boys to win, and I want Mona to win for the love of the school and the love of football, but football in Jamaica is developing, and there must be no traditional or non-traditional.
"Youths are just youths, schools are just schools, opportunity is just opportunity, and training is just training. You have to believe. Believe in our football and believe in our people," he continued.
Hydel coach Devon Anderson, who formerly coached minnows Holy Trinity, taking them to unprecedented heights in schoolboy football, was also elated to see two teams, not usually considered traditional Manning Cup contenders, in the final.
"Schools like those (non-traditional) motivates me. I was at one for 20-odd years, but there has been a revolution as far as I am concerned. So you need to beat the best to be the best, and it is a joy as a coach to be a part of this," Anderson said.
