Hillel banking on youth in second-ever Manning season

As Hillel Academy prepare for their second-ever season in the ISSA Manning Cup, head coach Sean Fraser said the school will field a young squad, as a number of last year’s players will not return for the upcoming season.

Hillel made their debut in the Manning Cup last year and, despite not making it past the first round, finished with moderate success.

They opened their campaign with a win over Meadowbrook High, and picked up two more wins in the first round.

The highlight of their season was a 9-1 triumph over Pembroke Hall High, their biggest margin of victory.

But, while Fraser is determined to build on their foundation from last season, he admitted there will be a lot of new faces in his squad.

“Well, last year was history because it was our debut,” Fraser said. “We think we did well enough and we could have done better but the players were young and inexperienced. However, this season is probably going to feel like a younger team.”

Fraser explained, as often is the case at Hillel, student athletes leave the school after grades 10 and 11, rather than other schools which retain their players until sixth form.

He also said a number of his players chose to migrate to complete their schooling overseas, further depleting their squad.

“At Hillel Academy, when the players who are the student athletes get to fourth form and fifth form, they leave the school,” Fraser explained.

“So it’s not like a traditional school where they go to sixth form and finish their Manning Cup tenure. For me, I’m losing about three players who are leaving the school completely.”

He continued, “And then we have 12 to 13 players who are migrating to go to junior colleges and high school oversea. So it’s going to be a brand-new Hillel Academy team you’ll see this year. For me, it’s just to accept the challenge and try to mould the boys in the best way as possible.”

Hillel are drawn in Group B of the first round as an unseeded team, alongside Dunoon Park Technical, Innswood High, Papine High, Clan Carthy High, St Mary’s College, Jose Marti Technical and Penwood High.

The top three teams from the group will advance to the second round where they will join the 16 seeded teams.

Hillel have also been drawn in the Walker Cup, where they will face Wolmer’s Boys in their opening game.

Fraser said ISSA’s decision to open the Walker Cup to all the teams was a positive change, as it brings prestige back to the knockout competition.

He said this opens the door for any team to win a title, and means each team enters with the same chance to win.

“I love what they did to the Walker Cup, because now people can stop calling it a ‘Loser’s Cup’,” Fraser said.

“I think it brings back the same amount of prestige that the FA Cup has in England. If you want to be the best, you have to beat the best.”