NewzFOR 43 long years, St Andrew Technical High School (STATHS) have been chasing a second Manning Cup title. Their only triumph came in remarkable fashion in 1987, when they shocked the football fraternity by dismantling a heavily favoured Excelsior High 6-1 in the final. Morris Cyrus was the star of the show, scoring a hat-trick to etch his name into Manning Cup folklore.
To this day, he remains the only player to score three goals in a final. But since that memorable night, STATHS have been unable to replicate their success. And what has made the drought most painful is the fact that they have come agonisingly close on several occasions.
The school has lost three Manning Cup finals to Jamaica College (JC), with each defeat coming after penalty shoot-outs. Head coach Phillip Williams is hoping his latest crop of players can finally break the jinx. St Andrew Technical High Mikel Riley (left) tackles Jamaica College’s Phillon Lawrence during the ISSA Manning Cup football match at Stadium East field in November 2019.
(Photo: Garfield Robinson) Williams took over the STATHS football programme in 2017 and has since guided the school to three Manning Cup finals and a Walker Cup final. Unfortunately, all four ended in heartbreak against JC. But rather than allowing those disappointments to weigh heavily on his players, Williams believes they have become an important source of motivation.
“Forty-three years is too long for a school like STATHS. With experienced players leading talented youngsters, we have a squad that can compete. If we stay together, stay disciplined, and keep improving, we have every chance to end the drought,” Williams said.
The technical drawing teacher believes the desire to rewrite the school’s history is shared throughout the squad. The youngsters are hearing about it daily. We’re using that history as motivation.
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