Bold ambition

HARON Martin says he is honoured and grateful to take on the role as head coach of the Wolmer’s Boys’ Under-19 football team. Martin, who replaces veteran Jerome Waite as coach of Wolmer’s, has vowed to make the team a dominant force in ISSA schoolboy football once again.

“I’m very grateful for this opportunity to be a part of such a prestigious institution. I’m humble and thank God and will do my best on my new journey. This appointment means a lot to me as my biggest role yet to come as a coach,” Martin told the Jamaica Observer.

He said he wants to have all Wolmer’s age-group teams playing an identifiable and attractive style of football.

“The vision is for Wolmer’s to have an identity for all to adore and admire. At Wolmer’s we want to win the Wolmerian way. We are definitely building student/athletes and moulding these young boys for the future. Also with our experienced team of managers who work tirelessly we believe it’s now time for Wolmer’s to be competitive again for years to come.

“We are going to implement this identity across all age groups, so transition from 14 to 16 and 16 to 19 [years old],” he explained.

Martin, popularly known as “German”, is one of the most successful youth coaches at Lannaman’s Prep, winning the Alberga and Henriques Cups. He led Kingston College to a number of ISSA Under-14 titles and was assistant coach when the Under-19 team lifted the Flow Super Cup in 2017.

Since switching to Wolmer’s Boys’ he continued his impressive showing at the youth level, guiding the Heroes’ Circle-based school to the 2023 Under-14 urban and all-island crowns during a remarkable unbeaten run.

Martin, who is technical director of Norbrook Strikers, led Constant Spring to the KSAFA Under-13 football title in 2023.

In this role with Wolmer’s Under-19 boys he will aim to end the school’s drought dating back to 1994 when they last claimed the ISSA urban Manning Cup title.

“I’m as ambitious as any aspiring coach to build their brand as a coach and I’m very elated for this opportunity which really motivates me to continue on,” said Martin.

“The vision for Wolmer’s’ football programme is to once again be a dominant force in schoolboy football with the leadership of our Principal Mr Dwight Pennycooke and Wolmerian stalwarts. We now believe it’s time Wolmer’s is again a dominant school in schoolboy football across all age groups,” he reiterated.

With Martin’s ascension to the Under-19 post, there are further changes at the lower levels as Delano Campbell is in charge of the Under-16s and Raymond Leveridge will take over the Under-14 team. Lamar Brown is the goalkeeper coach and Romone Lewis is the technical assistant coach.

“As the leading boys’ school in academics, we also want to have the same success on the football field and I’m very supportive of this vision from our principal and what we want the Wolmerian brand [to] represent. All coaches at Wolmer’s, we know each other for quite some time so there is no ego, just coaches working together for Wolmer’s’ football programme to be a success,” said Martin.

Damar Smith (foreground) of Wolmer’s Boys’ and Shamarie Chambers of Excelsior High vie for the ball during the ISSA Manning Cup match at Stadium East on October 22, 2025. (Photo: Naphtali Junior)