Photo: St. Elizabeth Technical coach Omar Wedderburn proudly displays the Ben Francis Cup trophy won by his team last month.
So you may have started following schoolboy football and your team of choice for the first time this season in the 2015 ISSA/FLOW DaCosta Cup competition. Maybe it was patriotism, curiosity, or a desire to get caught up in a massive, three month-long football fiesta. But no matter what got you into it, you’re here to the end and whether or not your team is in the final, you’re in for a thriller as six times Ben Francis Cup Champions St. Elizabeth Technical and Dinthill Technical square off on Saturday, at the Catherine Hall Sports Complex in Montego Bay.
The match is the finale of what has arguably been a closely contested 2015 Competition. Both finalist will also be meeting for the second time in several week. The pair have emerged ahead of strong semi-final opponents with the St. Catherine-based Dinthill getting by Manchester High 2-1 in their semi-final encounter on last Friday. A similar score line brought STETHS pass Lennon High in the first semi-final last Wednesday.
STETHS who defended their Ben Francis Cup title with a 4-1 win over beaten DaCosta semi-finalist, Manchester High will hold the favourites tag going into their fourth consecutive final. They won the competition in 1974, 1999, 2009 and 2013. They will banking on lead man Micheal Kerr to serve up some heroic displays on Saturday, and seal the deal for them. He should receive support from the likes of Romeo Wright, Neville Graham and Shawn Genus.
Take nothing away from the Anthony Patrick Unit, they have been playing consistently well throughout the season, albeit their last match up with STETHS ended in defeat.
The Omar Wedderburn coached unit had to dig deep to come away 7-6 winners in the penalty shootout after the game that ended 1-1 in regulation and 2-2 in extra time.
Dinthill knows that what they do on the field on Saturday will be of greater significance for the season and rolling by their School motto “deeds not words” their premier striker Rodave Murray will once again lead his team quest to achieve their third hold on the prestigious Cup. He will be supported by Romaine Walsh and Jahmani Ranger . Dinthill won the Cup in 1979 and 1981.
Both teams have been blessed with Technical directors/ head coaches with great passion and leadership abilities necessary to ensure high level football with innovative and cutting edge ideas designed to get results when it matters.
Patrick who guided Bridgeport High school to their first Manning Cup and Walker Cup titles in the schoolboy competitions in 2001. He also guided the Portmore-based institution to another Manning Cup triumph during the 2006-07 season. Now his aim is to lead his unit and himself to DaCosta supremacy.
Wedderburn who has been at the helm of the football program at STETHS since 2008, will be looking to add a third DaCosta Cup title to the two he secured already from 2009 & 2013.
He will be looking to remove the memory of their 3-0 beating at the hands of Clarendon College in the 2014 final, held at the same venue. Action starts at 5 pm on Saturday.
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