André Lowe, Senior Staff Reporter

When the 2009 schoolboy football season kicked off in September this year, not many pundits expected St Elizabeth Technical (STETHS) to be still playing competitive games in December.

In fact, very few gave them a chance to even get out of their group, and only the most optimistic of fans would have imagined a victory over the likes of preseason favourites Glenmuir and a third daCosta Cup lien.

Truth be told, even those closest to the team were somewhat surprised with their returns this season. After all, they are only at the top end of a recently crafted programme which was designed to condition the team for cup success in 2011, in the year that the school will recognise its 50th anniversary.

Technical director Wendell Downswell, who led the team to daCosta and all-island glory in 1999, was brought in after a bitter loss to arch-rivals Munro College, to add some experience to the bench, which was being steered by promising tactician Andrew Edwards.

Above expectations

Downswell, a former national coach and past student of the Santa Cruz-based school, is extremely happy with the performance of the team and was full of praise for Edwards, whom he taught recently during a series of Jamaica Football Federation-facilitated coaching courses.

"I think the team really stuck to it and they performed above expectations this year and we are all extremely proud of them. It was a tremendous team effort and everybody played their part in the triumph," Downswell said.

Turning his attention to Edwards, the long-time Reno FC coach singled him out as a promising prospect for the future.

"I respect him (Edwards) for the level of maturity that he has displayed throughout the season. He is one of the brighter young prospects in terms of coaches in the island, and the success he has had so far is an indication of what lies ahead in terms of his development as a coach," Downswell stated.

Having conquered rural area schoolboy football this year and coming within touching distance of the Olivier Shield schoolboy supremacy crown, Edwards, Downswell and the entire STETHS contingent will be looking to go one better next season.

"A high percentage of the team will still be around next season and so we are definitely coming back to defend the daCosta Cup title and we want to win the Olivier Shield as well. It's good that the guys got the experience of playing in that competition this year, and we have never won the Ben Francis knockout so we really want that next year as well," said Downswell.

It seems that STETHS are just about getting used to winning again, and not too many persons will bet against them doing that next time around.