Top two ready - It's going to be ours, says Tulloch
Published: Saturday | November 28, 2009
LEFT: St George's College's McKaully Tulloch
RIGHT: St George's College coach, Neville 'Bertis' Bell
Ryon Jones, Gleaner Writer
The 18-year-old St George's College forward, McKaully Tulloch, has been having a phenomenal season, scoring 20 goals in all competitions, with 18 of them coming in the Manning Cup.
"I started from a tender age, from I was around eight. I played with my friends until I developed a love for the sport and started playing seriously at primary school," Tulloch said.
He won the Primary League with Mountain View Primary in 2003 before moving on to Kingston College, where he played in both the Pepsi Under-14 and Colts Under-16 competitions.
Wonderful experience
"Playing at Kingston College was a great, wonderful experience, and I deve-loped there very well. However, one day I woke and I just decided I needed a change," Tulloch said. "I decided to come to George's because I have a few friends there. It has been great (at St George's), wonderful guys; the players are fantastic to be around," he added.
Tulloch, who has also represented Jamaica at both the under-17 and under-20 levels, said it was a great honour to represent one's country.
"To represent your country is a great honour because there are a lot of players in Jamaica and for a youth to be selected in that 20 and then in the final 11, it is a wonderful thing," Tulloch said.
At the under-20 level, Tulloch played in last year's Caribbean Football Union tournament, where Jamaica topped the group. He, however, got injured and had to do knee surgery upon his return to Jamaica.
Best season of career
"I got the injury in January and it kept me out of football for some 10 months, but I am just working hard. I am still not at 100 per cent but I am getting there. Football is what I love and I really want a career out of it, so I am working very hard at that.
"It is the best season of my schoolboy football career, I can't complain. I have played in all the games throughout the Manning Cup season and the Walker Cup. Went to the Walker Cup finals and now we are in the Manning Cup finals, can't ask for more," Tulloch said.
For today's final, Tulloch promises the "same wonderful passing game from St George's College".
"The first priority is to win the Manning Cup, and that is what I really want to do. With the help of my team and playing to instructions it's going to be ours," he added.
Robert Bailey, Gleaner Writer
St George's College's coach, Neville 'Bertis' Bell, expects a tough battle when his 'light blues' meet Bridgeport High in today's ISSA/Pepsi/Digicel Manning Cup final.
"Everyone believes we are the favourites, and if the experts think this way, then we just have to live with it," Bell said on Thursday.
"We know that it is going to be a very tough game but we also know that if we do what we are supposed to do then we will do well," said Bell. "Bridgeport is a good team with an experienced coach, but we are confident, knowing that if we play as well as we have been doing all season, then we should win," he said.
Bell will not be satisfied with just reaching the Manning Cup final. He really wants to win back-to-back titles.
"There is no pressure on us because we thank God that we have made it to the final. However, we are not satisfied because we want to win the Manning Cup," he said.
The defending champions will enter today's final with their best team, as Bell said all his players are injury free, their preparations have been going well and they are raring to go.
"We expect that we are going to have to play very hard to win, but I think that the team that scores the most goals will win the game and, hopefully, we will score more goals than them," Bell added.
He noted that St George's will be banking on the experience and depth of their players.
He also expects a team effort when the game kicks off at 3:30 today inside the National Stadium.
Quality, experienced players
"I think we have some quality and experienced players on our team and, hopefully, we will get it right," he said.
"The good thing about my team is that it is always a team effort. 'Jimmie' (McKaully Tulloch) is our leading scorer and Marvin Morgan is second, but we have 11 other goal scorers and we have people who provide the ball," Bell said.
"Winning the title would mean a lot to the school and community and, hopefully, we can do it for them because they have supported us brilliantly, not only this season but over the years."
