Johnson Nodley Wright, Freelance Writer
Former Jamaica football representative Baris Johnson is the new man in charge of the Herbert Morrison Technical High school daCosta Cup team.
The 33-year-old Johnson replaces Delroy Brown who, in his one-year stint, led the team to the inter-zone round but was not retained.The school was daCosta Cup winners in 1986 and 1988 but have flattered to deceive since that time.
"Basically, I see this as a challenge that I have to meet. The school has a rich history in football and I am looking forward to helping to get the name back to where it belongs," said Johnson, who earned honours as a schoolboy representing Excelsior in 1990 and 1991 when he won the Manning Cup and Walker Cup KO titles.
Rich history
In its 31 years of existence, the school, located at Alice Eldemire Drive, has a rich history in rural schoolboy football, producing a number of players who have represented the country at different levels.
Among the players to don the school colours are Hector Wright, Keith Tomlinson, Winston 'Tanto' Henry, Devon Jarrett-Ricketts, Kirk Hendricks, Markeino Gillings and David Dixon.
Previously, Johnson coached Priory High School at the Under-16 level and the Waterhouse Football Club's Under-20 team. This, however, will be his first job as a head coach.
Different from the club
"The daCosta Cup level and coaching in a school is totally different from the club situation but it is something that I am looking forward to and I am prepared for whatever challenges come my way.
"For me though, it is much more than about football, it means shaping the players to become good human beings, good students and good players. Playing a part in this will be the teachers, parents and the wider community," the holder of a Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) level II coaching certificate explained.
In his playing career, Johnson won numerous honours beginning with the Manning Cup in 1990 alongside the likes of Ali Cole, Walter Boyd and Christopher Bailey. The following year they won the Walker Cup Knock Out competition. At the club level he won the National Premier League, Federation Cup and Jackie Bell Knock Out with Waterhouse and Harbour View respectively. He also, represented the country at the juvenile level (Under-18 and Under-23) before graduating towardsthe senior level, earning a handful of caps.
