After winning four of the five titles in the Ministry of Sports Schools Football, Head Coach of the Princess Margaret School, Rolston ‘Lexi’ Phoenix is anticipating another successful year for the school.
Phoenix’s track record speaks for itself. Last season, his boys’ teams captured both the Under-16 and Under-20 trophies, with only the Under-14 championship eluding their grasp. Now, with the additional responsibility of coaching the girls’ championship team, Phoenix faces the challenge of managing five teams across different age divisions.
“We try to set a standard every year,” Phoenix explained. “I try to maintain that standard in terms of playing style and how the players carry themselves both on and off the field.”
The upcoming season brings significant roster changes as graduation has claimed several key players from last year’s successful campaigns. Notable departures include Jonathan Shoy and Greg Williams, who have all completed school and moved on from the program.
“A lot of guys from the Under-20s have finished school, so I’m going to bring up some players from the Under-16s, and some Under-14 players will move between divisions,” Phoenix noted. “The squad will be smaller this year, but we have a good core group that can compete for championships.”
Rising stars expected to make the transition include Nation youth players Shumba Thomas and Mario Lewis, as Phoenix expresses confidence in these younger players stepping up to fill the void left by graduating seniors.
Taking on the additional role of head coach for the girls’ team presents both opportunities and challenges. The defending champions face even more significant roster turnover than the boys’ program.
“There are more changes on the girls’ side than the boys,” Phoenix acknowledged. “Many of our better female players have also graduated.”
However, he remains optimistic about incoming talent from primary schools and local communities, including players from Five Islands and Freemans Village. With approximately seven to ten returning players forming the core, Phoenix plans to strategically move players between the Under-16 and Under-20 divisions to maintain competitive squads.
Coaching five teams simultaneously requires exceptional organizational skills and time management. Phoenix acknowledges the demanding nature of his responsibilities but emphasizes his commitment to the student-athletes.
“If you make up your mind, you know it’s demanding because of school and timing – sometimes I might have games at the same time,” he said. “But I can’t leave the kids. If we’re playing away games, I can’t abandon them. The schedule will get hectic, but I’ll manage.”
The coach expressed appreciation for recent initiatives, including the provision of uniforms to schools by sponsors. “It’s really a nice thing,” Phoenix said, noting that some schools previously struggled to fund jerseys and equipment.
The interview also touched on the departure of the former Principal, Dr. Colin Greene in the school’s sports program, with Phoenix paying tribute to him.
“It’s a tremendous loss for the school, for everybody, the whole community, the football program,” Phoenix reflected. “Mr. Green always wanted the best out of everyone all the time. He was very supportive of everything – he would be at every practice session.”
Despite the challenges of roster turnover and increased responsibilities, Coach Phoenix remains confident about the upcoming season. His philosophy centers on maintaining established standards while adapting to new personnel.
Training has already begun with training last Thursday morning, and Phoenix continues to emphasize the fundamentals that have brought success in previous seasons: “We’ll stick to the game plan, keep it simple, and trust in our preparation.”
As school football returns, Princess Margaret School enters the season with realistic expectations tempered by proven leadership. Under Phoenix’s guidance, the program aims to continue its winning tradition while developing the next generation of student-athletes across all divisions.
The upcoming season will test Phoenix’s ability to manage multiple teams while maintaining the championship culture that has become synonymous with Princess Margaret School football. With a blend of experienced returners and promising newcomers, the foundation appears solid for another successful campaign.
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