STETHS are ready - Wedderburn

Western Bureau:

Omar Wedderburn's lack of emotion, while directing affairs from the St Elizabeth Technical (STETHS') bench, gives the impression he could be somewhat detached from his team's success, but that couldn't be further from the truth.

The STETHS coach for once, admits to be feeling real anxiety, as he awaits the 4:30 p.m. kick-off in the final of the 2015 ISSA-FLOW daCosta Cup Football Competition this afternoon between his team and Dinthill Technical at the Montego Bay Sports Complex.

"I am anxious. I can't wait for match time. I have been having sleepless nights over this one," Wedderburn told The Gleaner.

"This one is overdue and we need to make amends. I am expecting a 'Texas-style shoot-out' between the teams, where at the end the quickest and baddest will be left standing," he said.

STETHS last held the daCosta Cup in 2013 and are looking to recapture that most coveted of rural-area schoolboy football trophies, having done so four times already, but for Wedderburn, the fifth could be something special.

They had to fight hard after a less than spectacular start to the campaign. STETHS lost once and were held to draws three times in the preliminary round. They then battled their way into pole position for the inter-zone round, and winning the title at Dinthill's expense would be special for his mostly young players.

"I know Dinthill will be gunning for us. I know they have quality players, and that is why they are in the final."

"The youngster Rodave Murray is a very good talent, but while we respect our opponents and show respect to him, we deserve to be here also and the team is straight up ready to knock them over," Wedderburn said.

"I am sure they are more than just one player, but whoever starts for them it doesn't matter. It's all about winning for STETHS," he added.

STETHS have won the daCosta Cup four times starting in 1974 and had to wait 25 years to claim a second in 1999. They were again champions in 2009, lost in the final to Glenmuir in 2012, but were back to their best in 2013 before losing out to Clarendon in the 2014 final.

If the sequence is to be followed, it would result in STETHS being crowned champions a fifth time.

"My players are aware of the history, and are determined to take full toll. Dinthill is a strong team and we salute them for that, but this STETHS team is superior, confident and ready," reasoned Wedderburn.

If they are to get their hands on the trophy this time around it will be up to the likes of Chris-Andrew Dixon, Michael Kerr - their red-hot striker with 29 goals to his name -, Trevaughn McCulloch, Shawn Genus and Romeo Wright to deliver.