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STETHS aiming for fast start in d’Cup
August 04, 2025
After a slow start in the last two seasons, St Elizabeth Technical High School (STETHS) are looking for a fast start heading into the upcoming ISSA schoolboy daCosta Cup football season.
The Omar 'Rambo' Wedderburn-coached STETHS are the 2024 ISSA Ben Francis Knock-out champions.
"We definitely don't want to repeat a start like last season. Our main focus now is to get a better start. We always prepare our players to go all the way. Sometimes we fall short but we have to keep going," Wedderburn told STAR Sports.
Last season, STETHS had to play catch up after a rocky start. They narrowly moved onto the second round, after a nail-biting 2-1 win over Munro College during their Zone E match.
According to Wedderburn, the team is also heading into the new season not dwelling on players lost, but focusing on the new season's potential.
"I always look at the new season as brand new and what we can achieve. Honestly, I don't really look at it as who I retain or lose," said Wedderburn.
"We are setting our bars to the highest that as time goes by and the season starts we will move in the direction that we can actually win a silverware or two," he added.
STETHS have not had much activity in terms of playing matches and though starting with a quiet preseason compared to other years, Wedderburn describes it as hard working, with a rebuilding phase under way.
"Unlike previous years, this year is a very quiet and nice one for us. The programme is smooth and effective," said Wedderburn, who commended the coaching staff and managers involved.
"We think we are humble to an extent that sometimes it is asking us why we are so humble, especially knowing what is at stake for us," added Wedderburn.
Over the years, the Ben Francis KO Cup, that was once viewed as prestigious, is now referred to as the 'Loser's Cup', because of a change in the competition's format that grants teams that miss out of qualifying for the crucial stages of the daCosta Cup a second chance at winning a trophy.
However, veteran head coach Wedderburn told STAR Sports that that they are grateful for the silverware, even though they have their sights set on challenging for the daCosta Cup this season.
"Certainly, this year, if I have a choice not to play for the Ben Francis title, I would take that and play for the daCosta Cup instead," said Wedderburn.
Eight schools who were eliminated from the daCosta Cup quarter-finals were given a second chance to vie for the Ben Francis KO title.
"It's a competition with a lot of schools who are competing for a championship. People call it the 'Losers Cup', but we call it the Ben Francis Cup. You go in the beginning of the season with nothing and at the end, you come out with something," added Wedderburn.
STETHS ended a nine-year drought with a 3-1 victory over Clarendon College in the Ben Francis KO to crown themselves champions last season.
They missed out on a place in the daCosta Cup semi-finals after Glenmuir High School delivered a 5-2 thrashing.
Going into that fixture, STETHS were four points behind Glenmuir, who were perfect up to that point and just needed a point to make it to the final four.
STETHS have won 11 schoolboy football titles, the daCosta Cup in 1974, 1999, 2009, 2013 and 2015. They won six consecutive Ben Francis KO titles from 2010 to 2015. With last year's seventh title, they are now tied with Cornwall College.
STETHS will be campaigning in Zone E in the first round alongside B.B. Coke High, Munro College, Maggotty High, Newell High and Lacovia High.
The ISSA schoolboy football season will officially begin on Saturday, September 6.
