2 weeks ago
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While Papine High has ruled out the possibility of a fairy tale run in the upcoming Manning Cup season, head coach Michael Blygen has his eyes set on much loftier ambitions - that is, creating well-rounded men from the school’s football programme.
Speaking with The Gleaner during his team’s pre-season preparations, Blygen said the school simply cannot compete against the more resourceful programmes in the Manning Cup.
With this in mind, he said his programme’s priority is to prepare their students for life after high school.
This, Blygen explained, is done by ensuring the players are finding the right balance between academics and football.
“At Papine High School, we want the boys to do the right thing in terms of their academics and sports. We don’t want players just to play sports only. No, they must balance their academics with it,” Papine’s head coach said.
“That is a challenge with some of these lads, because they’re accustomed to not doing their schoolwork and I’m a coach that is not into that. We’re teaching them to have that balance.
He continued, “As a coach, I have to prepare them for what is coming in the outside world. We have to be truthful to them that to have an education while doing sports is really the best way to go.”
This stance has forced Blygen into the difficult decision of cutting players from his squad who, he said, are unwilling to work on their academics.
While this has caused him to miss out on talented players, he is adamant that, for any player to join his team, they must show a commitment to their schoolwork first.
“Many times, we have players who can really help us but, because of a lack in academics, they’re not out there playing,” he said.
“I’d rather that than to use a player just to try to win a trophy. I’m not that type of person, because I know what life is like.”
SEASON’S AMBITIONS
Blygen, however, admitted he does hold ambitions for the upcoming season, as he believes they have the potential of making it past the first round.
He will be looking to improve on their 2024 performance when they had been eliminated at the first round.
“We will get there slowly but surely. Over the years from I came in, we have seen a lot of changes in our results. We’re winning games now, drawing games now and finishing high up the table.
“This season’s objective is to get out of the zone. That is our objective and we’re looking at our young talents and young players to rebuild from scratch. That is the direction we’re going, and it will bear fruit in the future.”
However, he admitted it will not be an easy task, as he faces several challenges he will need to overcome.
One such challenge, he said, is the fact that several of his players do not play in club football, and their only knowledge of competitive sport is the Manning Cup.
This leaves them with the task of trying to cover for months of inactivity where opposing players would be in constant competition.
“Many of these players don’t even play at the club level. So they do not play a lot of football. That poses a big challenge because the rest of the teams, majority if not all of those players, play for clubs.
“They’re ahead of us in terms of talent and understanding the game. That is where I am trying to teach these lads about the game. Football is not just going on the pitch and running up and down. You have to come out and practise, to put in the work and understand their roles and functions on the pitch.”
Papine will begin their campaign in Zone D where they have been drawn alongside St Catherine High, Campion College, Clan Carthy High, Penwood High, Eltham High, Norman Manley High and Innswood High.
English (US) ·