Wilson family legacy continues with Manning Cup success
Published:Monday | December 5, 2022 | 12:06 AMDaniel Wheeler/Staff Reporter
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Just as his father, Kevin “Pele” Wilson, did decades before, Jamaica College’s (JC) Kevaughn Wilson continued the family tradition of Manning Cup success on Friday night, honoured and privileged to write his own name in history. Jamaica College’s...
Just as his father, Kevin “Pele” Wilson, did decades before, Jamaica College’s (JC) Kevaughn Wilson continued the family tradition of Manning Cup success on Friday night, honoured and privileged to write his own name in history.
Jamaica College’s 31st ISSA/Digicel Manning Cup title came as they outlasted St Andrew Technical High School (STATHS) 8-7 on penalties in the final on Friday night, with both teams finishing 1-1 in relegation.
Wilson’s 2022 Manning Cup season sees him finish with nine goals, second most for the team this season, only surpassed by J’havier Lynch, who finished with 12 goals. For Wilson, who scored his penalty in the third round of a chaotic shoot-out, the reality of lifting the prize in his first season lived up to the fantasy.
“Words can’t express how I am feeling right now, but I am very happy for myself and my team. My first season and my first Manning Cup title - it’s a joy,” Wilson told The Gleaner. “I think I did a pretty good job for the season. I know that I can do better, and I am always hungry to do more.” It is that hunger that has fuelled Wilson in his run to the title, matching his father’s 1995 title success with Charlie Smith, who would go on to add the Oliver Shield and Walker Cup titles, completing a treble-winning season. That prospect could still be matched by Kevaughn this season, with the Champions Cup and Olivier Shield finals to come. Against a team that JC is all too familiar with, Wilson knew that it would take a monumental effort to prevail.
“We played STATHS two times before today. We know STATHS are a very good team. We knew what they were coming with, and we matched up to them well,” Wilson said.
By no means is he just content with what he has already achieved but is driven to the possibilities of what he can still do. But Wilson says that continuing the family tradition of football and now, winning titles, is something that he is cherishing with those close to him.
“It is not the end of the journey, but I’m very happy to win the Manning Cup. I can add it to my name, and it is going to go down in history, so I am very proud to win this,” Wilson said. “It’s great to continue the legacy that my father has set. I know that I have a lot of years to improve as a footballer and do well. And that is what I am looking forward to, to continue the Wilson legacy and make myself and my family proud.”