Anderson relaxed about taking over Clarendon College football programme - Jamaica Observer

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Newly appointed head coach of Clarendon College Devon Anderson said he is under no pressure to deliver immediate success as he takes over the reins of one of Jamaica's most storied schoolboy football programmes.

Anderson, who succeeded veteran Lenworth "Teacher" Hyde earlier this year, takes charge of the Clarendon-based side that won consecutive daCosta Cup and Olivier Shield titles in 2022 and 2023.

Hyde has since taken up the head coaching position at Dinthill Technical, leaving behind a legacy that includes four daCosta Cup and four Olivier Shield trophies at his alma mater.

Despite the high expectations that come with the job, Anderson, who led Hydel High to the Manning Cup final and consecutive semi-final appearances in recent seasons, told the Jamaica Observer that he is focussing on long-term development rather than instant results.

"Everything has been good so far, and the reception has been very good from the kids and the few spectators that I have interacted with. They are elated and they are looking out to see what I will be bringing to the table come this September," said Anderson.

He acknowledges the strong winning culture at Clarendon College, where supporters demand silverware year after year, but insists that he is taking a measured, step-by-step approach as he settles into the role.

"The expectations will always be high from the team and their supporters always want to win, regardless if they have a young team, yes or no," he said. "They are used to that winning culture and still looking for that, whether you just came today or tomorrow."

However, Anderson pointed out that he is not going to allow that pressure to weigh him down. "In every organisation, as a newcomer, you come in with a new philosophy. It is going to take time to impose your philosophy on the players," he noted "This is a new project, so I don't really have an expectation to say that I am going to win this month or next month. I am just taking it step by step."

Anderson highlighted that the squad is still in transition and that he has not yet fully assessed how many players have been retained from last season's team which went to the semi-finals of the daCosta Cup competition. "I know this is a very young team. I haven't gone through to see how many players we've retained, but I know we have a young bunch of kids raring and ready to go," Anderson said. "So when the season starts, anywhere the chips lay, that is where they are going to fall."

Anderson also pointed out that Clarendon College is a bigger programme than he is used to, but he noted that he is not daunted by the scale of the job.

"I wouldn't say it is a big task, but it is a bigger school than what I am used to. But I have been in situations where, within three years, I went from having no programme to the final and back-to-back semi-finals of the Manning Cup," he said. "So I am not worried. I am just looking forward to the challenge and putting things together for the future."