A win for the west

With tears of joy streaming down his face, Omar ‘Rambo’ Wedderburn, head coach of St Elizabeth Technical High School (STETHS), could barely contain his emotions after guiding his team to their sixth ISSA/WATA daCosta Cup title on Saturday at the National Stadium.

STETHS were pushed all the way by a resilient Glenmuir High side before emerging victorious 8-7 in a dramatic penalty shoot-out, after both teams remained locked at 0-0 at the end of regulation time. The triumph marked STETHS’ first hold on the prestigious trophy since 2015 and capped off a remarkable season filled with adversity and resilience.

The victory carried even deeper significance for the school and the wider parish of St Elizabeth, which, along with several western parishes, was devastated by Category 5 Hurricane Melissa in October. The powerful storm claimed the lives of 45 people across the island and left many families displaced, including members of the STETHS football family.

Wedderburn said the players, their families, and the people of St Elizabeth have been deeply affected by the hurricane, with many losing their homes and personal belongings, and as such, the team dedicated the title to everyone in the parish.

“Honestly, we have all the people that suffered from the hurricane in our hearts, and everything that we have done since then is all about them,” said Wedderburn.

“Majority of whom you have seen here are not going back home to any light or water, and they came out to support us. And honestly, the storm hit us together because we were in the dormitory and we did not leave each other, because we told ourselves that we are going to do this and do it together,” he said. “What you see here is a blessing; and the word that I can say right now is that if you are not saying God, then you are not saying nothing.”

Wedderburn also reflected on the harrowing experience his team endured during the passage of the hurricane and how it strengthened their resolve to succeed for their community.

“When the hurricane hit us, the top of the dorm blew off and we had to run to the auditorium, and we never one day turn our backs on each other. And we decided that if there is one thing that we can do for the people of western Jamaica is to win the daCosta Cup,” he added. “We don’t talk about the performance, we talk about result, and the result is what we came for and we got it.”

Principal of STETHS Keith Wellington was overjoyed with his team’s success; and he has also dedicated the school’s triumph to the people of western Jamaica.

“I am feeling joyful, overwhelmed and all these adjectives you can use to describe a feeling that you can describe; and I want to tell you that STETHS is back,” he said.

“We showed determination and we did things right to the end, and I am so proud of this team. We suffered so much through the hurricane, and we took a stand that we are not victims and we are going to stand for each other in our communities, and so this is for western Jamaica,” Wellington added.