Immense daCosta Cup battle looms ... STETHS, CORNWALL SQUARE OFF

At the start of the 2016 ISSA-Flow daCosta Cup football season, there were 77 schools in the hunt for the crown. Nearly four months later, only two remain and that challenge will be answered this evening, when reigning champions St Elizabeth Technical battle the competition’s winningest team, Cornwall College in the final starting at 6 p.m. at the Catherine Hall Sports Complex. It’s a final of huge importance for both teams and one that promises to reignite and awaken the almost forgotten rivalry between two of the competition’s most successful schools. STETHS enters the match, much the accomplished defending champions and with a point to prove, while Cornwall hopes to recapture its former glory. The Dr Dean Weatherly-coached Cornwall College is making their first daCosta Cup final appearance since 2001. They boast two of the competition’s most feared attacking duo in Jourdaine Fletcher and super talented Peter-Lee Vassell.

BLAME OURSELVES

Fletcher in particular will be a threat as he has scored 27 goals so far in the season. “We have come a long way,” Weatherly said, “I noted at the start of the season that if we come this far and lose the final, we would have to blame ourselves. I think the players are ready, and once we play to instructions, we will win.”

“Going after a 12th daCosta Cup title is motivation for this team. The players have been together now for three years playing football. It all comes down to this. We are confident and hopeful of victory,” Weatherly said.

STETHS’ pedigree is bettered only by few including the 11 titles Cornwall has won.

“This is the competition we love. The daCosta Cup is the biggest title in schoolboy football, and we target this one each season,” stated Wedderburn

STETHS defeated Lennon High 2-1 in their semi-final, putting in yet another hearty performance. Wedderburn wants more of the same against Cornwall College, who will start the game as favourites.

“A favourite tag never guarantees a win. We are here because we strive to be here,” Wedderburn said.

Alex Thompson, Glendo Gopaul, Demar James and captain Chris-Andrew Dixon, who is described as the heart of the STETHS team could make the difference for the Santa Cruz-based team.