Principal of Jamaica College, Ruel Reid (fourth right), captain Junior Flemmings (second right), and other members of the team celebrate winning the ISSA/LIME Manning Cup, held by goalkeeper Courtney Dowdie, during devotion at the school's auditorium yesterday morning. At right is the school's board chairman Michael Bernard, while third from right is team manager Ian Forbes. - Jermaine Barnaby/Photographer

Robert Bailey, STAR Writer

The words from the hymn Victory is Mine bellowed through the loud speakers inside the Karl Hendrickson Auditorium on the school grounds of Jamaica College (JC) yesterday morning, as students, teachers and staff members gathered to celebrate Saturday's win in this year's final of the ISSA/LIME Manning Cup football competition.

JC retained the Cup, after defeating Charlie Smith 2-1 in extra-time in a very competitive final, to claim their second title of the season. The final was played at the National Stadium.

On course to win four titles, JC will face St George's College in the Walker Cup KO final on Thursday at the Constant Spring Sports Complex.

Principal Ruel Reid told the gathering that the victory underlined the hard work and dedication of the players both on the field of play and in the classroom.

"It wasn't handed to them on a platter," said Reid. "They had to work jolly well hard from last year's unit now to remain unbeaten," he said.

Reid added that people must give credit to the school for the work that they have put in over the years in order to become the top schoolboy football team in the country.

"We put in all the work, and we have put in all the management structures that were necessary to support the team, and the stakeholders are supporting them every step of the way," Reid said.

Michael Bernard, chairman of the school's board, also lauded the team.

"It is a wonderful achievement," said Bernard. "The team has been properly prepared by the coaching staff, properly managed and the effort and commitment that they have put in has resulted in the kind of success that we expect.

"What we do to silence detractors is keep winning, and so we are on track for four titles, and we are going to give it our best effort, and with the grace of God, we will move on to win the third and then the fourth," Bernard added.