Newly crowned ISSA Under-16 champions St Andrew Technical (STATHS) have dedicated their victory to slain Manning Cup forward Omar Laing.
On Thursday, STATHS claimed their first football trophy in over three decades following a 2-1 triumph over the previously unbeaten Kingston College. In fact, prior to the shock loss in the final, the North Street-based team had failed to concede a goal all season.
A brilliant Delaney Whyte free-kick blotted that copybook and gave STATHS the lead in the 25th minute. After missing several presentable opportunities, in the first half, Kingston College did manage to pull back on level terms when Dujuan Richards scored soon after the resumption. However, an own goal in the 54th from Anthony Ricketts sent the Purples crashing to a surprise defeat.
Laing, the leading scorer for the school’s Manning Cup team last season, was killed in a drive-by shooting incident in downtown Kingston last week. His younger brother is currently a part of the triumphant Under-16 squad.