Dad vs son in clash of Butlers

KINGSTON, Jamaica -- For 90 minutes on Saturday, football will pit father against son when Mona High technical director Craig Butler comes face-to-face with Vauxhall High coach, his son Kyle Butler in an intriguing ISSA Walker Cup quarterfinal. But while Craig will be desperate to see Mona advance, the veteran football developer admits there would be something special about watching his son lift the Walker Cup with Vauxhall. Craig, who has spent years nurturing young Jamaican footballers through his Phoenix Academy, said his ultimate wish is for Kyle and his daughter Kaycie to surpass his own achievements. “I have raised Kyle and Kaycie to surpass my achievements. Only a father who doesn’t love his children would want them not to succeed,” Craig said. The father-son showdown is an unusual twist to what is already one of the more intriguing Walker Cup quarterfinals, but Craig believes football has provided the family with a unique opportunity to work together, travel and share memorable moments. “In football, we have an opportunity as a family to work and to spend valuable time and banter,” he said. Craig has travelled extensively during his football career, taking Jamaican football talent to various parts of the world. He recently pointed to the progress of Phoenix graduate Daniel Scarlett, who has signed with Australian club Central Coast Mariners, as another example of the opportunities available to young local players. But on Saturday, the focus will be squarely on Mona and Vauxhall. Craig has been impressed with the transformation of Vauxhall under Kyle and believes his son has earned the respect of the school community. “It would be wonderful for Kyle to win the Walker Cup and Manning Cup with Vauxhall. He is well loved there and has done wonders with the school and the players,” he said. However, Craig knows Kyle faces a major obstacle in Mona, who have developed a football identity over several years. “Mona is in another mode now. They have ascended with a team built over the last six years,” he said. “It is a brand of football that is embedded in the school and its players, and it will be hard," Craig added. There is also a strong Phoenix connection between the two teams, making Saturday's contest even more significant for the Butler family. Craig, however, is not allowing the rivalry to overshadow the bigger picture. “Both teams are Phoenix and, either way it goes, it will be love again after the game,” he said. And that sentiment is likely to define the Butler family story long after the final whistle — regardless of whether father Craig or son Kyle is celebrating a place in the Walker Cup semi-finals. - Howard Walker