�Ӱ��԰�

"Mi a the first Ronaldo, mi older than the one in Brazil," declared past student of The Manning's School, Ronaldo Webley.

A patriot who loves his school and football, Webley, also known as "Pegleg", is from Gooden's River in Westmoreland.

The 61-year-old can be seen on the school compound during games with two vuvuzelas taped together, a Manning's School jersey and flag waving. His presence can be felt from a distance.

"I am blue blood, I am always a supporter of Manning's. This school is a role model school, we are trendsetters. It is a privilege to come to this school. I love this school, once you come here everyone expects you to go forward," he stated.

"Frome is not a threat and no other school," he giggled, as he hailed the new Manning's football programme and took a spike at their Westmoreland archrivals. "Manning's is the only school in Westmoreland right now."

He credited the work being done by the head coach, and the work of the past students, which is being spearheaded on the frontlines by Victor Lowe.

"Mi a footballer from mi born. Mi is a retired blue blood now. Coach Everton Tomlinson come in with a programme that is successful. We in semifinals consecutively so I love what mi see. I am so proud of Victor Lowe, the man behind everything," he stated.

HIS TIME AT MANNING'S

Reminiscing about his time attending Manning's in 1978, Webley admitted that he was expelled. However, that didn't stop him from coming back to take on other roles.

"Mi a the first 'expellee' from the school," he noted of the not so proud expulsion. "Mi bring weed on the compound. Mi embarrass mi father with the situation but life goes on.

"I did go to Ardenne High too, but came back here to do evening classes to get my passes," Webley explained.

As he remains passionate about the school, Webley took the time to show a bicycle stand which he says is the oldest thing on the compound of the 286-year-old The Manning's School, the second oldest school in Jamaica.

"Me a the trendsetter here. Is me invent mascot here and mi deal with that programme. Right now I have my mascot outfit that I wear sometimes to the matches," he said, as he blew his double powered vuvuzuela at The Manning's vs Grange Hill WATA ISSA daCosta Cup football match on Tuesday, which The Manning's School won 5-0.

According to Webley, his children and some family members all attended Manning's. He said they are all 'Blue Bloods', as The Manning's School's students are called, and will never change.

As for friendly rivalry, Webley said both Clarendon College and St Elizabeth Technical High School (STETHS) are teams he views as his biggest rivals.

"I wah step on Lenny Hyde bad bad bad. I coming for the trophy, I go grab it with my two hands. This is our time now," he said of the Lenworth Hyde-coached Clarendon College.

" The STAR is going to interview me again with that trophy. We taking it from semi-finals moving on," Webley said confidently.

"As for STETHS, we will kick them down backway like a horse now. I have them up so much because them bag wi up back in the day. Is about eight nil them give we. It grieve mi until now. They were the biggest rivals those days because they were hype," Webster noted.

The Manning's School made their first ever appearance in the daCosta Cup finals in 2022. They got a crushing 5-0 defeat to Garvey Maceo, who are two-time champions.

This time there is extreme confidence, and Webley sent out a warning to other schools for this season's daCosta Cup.

"Anybody mi catch going forward now, remember Pegleg say 'we coming at you', this is our year."

ashley.anguin@gleanerjm.com