MANNING, DACOSTA CUPCoaches Wedderburn, Ricketts welcome changes

One of the major changes to this season’s Manning and daCosta Cup competitions will be the absence of the traditional ‘big teams’ from the opening round. Defending Manning Cup champions Excelsior High, Jamaica College, Kingston College, Wolmer’s Boys, Calabar High, St Andrew Technical, among others, have all been granted byes to the second round.

The same applies to several top rural teams, including defending daCosta Cup champions St Elizabeth Technical (STETHS), Glenmuir High, Clarendon College, Cornwall College, Mannings High and Rusea’s High, who will also skip the first round.

Although some stakeholders remain sceptical about the change, coaches Omar ‘Rambo’ Wedderburn of STETHS and Kemar Ricketts of Calabar have welcomed the new format.

Wedderburn believes the adjustment will inject much‑needed “spice” into the season.

“Changes are good. We can’t expect to do the same thing over and over and get the same result. At some point in time we have to try something new. The competitions need some spice, and you have to think about it in different ways,” he said.

He added that teams with serious ambitions will prepare accordingly, regardless of the structure.

“If you are a good team, you have to plan to play every game if you want to stay in the competition. So it doesn’t really matter about the format. It’s what you plan to do.

“I am not worried. STETHS, over the years, are a slow-starting team. It has a lot to do with us as the coaches and how can we adapt towards changes.

“The big problem facing some coaches is the fact that they don’t know if they can adjust to the new changes. So changes are not the problem. It’s us as coaches,” he stated.

Ricketts, formerly of Munro College, believes the changes will benefit sponsors and improve competitiveness.

“The alterations are good, speaking from a corporate standpoint. They are needed. You just have to get your feet grounded from early and get going.

“The only drawback is the reduced games. If we look at it from a development standpoint, it can really help.

“In the normal format you would play more games. Home and away games. Now you are straight into the knockout competitions, and if you get to the semi-finals (KOs) you are into the Champions Cup. Then you go back to the Manning Cup. It’s just that you are playing a little less games, but it is good for the competition, good for the sponsors, and I’m all into it,” he commented.

Both coaches are also pleased with the restoration of the Walker and Ben Francis Cups to their original formats, allowing all teams a chance to compete.

“It’s a good way forward. Now you get a chance for all four trophies. Before, you could only win three. Now it gives you the chance to take home all trophies and see who is the king of the jungle. I think it is good for competition. Good for the boys,” Ricketts said.

Wedderburn believes the knockout competitions will shed the long‑standing ‘losers cup’ label and regain prestige.

“Normally, they call the Ben Francis the ‘losers cup’. We want to see what they are going to call it now. I am glad for the change in the Ben Francis, and I am listening for that new name just the same,” he mused.