Morris Cyrus, a hero of St Andrew Technical High School's (STATHS) legendary 1987 season, is lending his support to an initiative aimed at constructing a Medical Counseling and Wellness Centre at his alma mater. Cyrus, along with other STATHS sporting legends, will be featured in a special webathon on November 2, hosted by STATHS78 and Friends Incorporated, with the aim of raising funds for this critical project.

Led by sports agent Claude Bryan, who chairs the initiative, the project seeks to modernize STATHS’ outdated sick bay and establish a facility that offers health and counseling services for students. For Cyrus, being a part of this effort is both a privilege and a responsibility.

To kick off their fundraising efforts, there will be a three-hour webathon on Saturday from 6-9 pm. The event will highlight the lives and achievements of 16 sporting legends who attended STATHS. Among these legends are the late Jamaica and West Indies cricketer Richard "Danny Germs" Austin, Olympian Mike Fray, Reggae Boy Jeadine White and, of course, Cyrus.

"It's an honour but one I share with the entire squad," said Cyrus, now an IT director, acknowledging the collective spirit that fueled their memorable 1987 triumph. "I know I always get the limelight, but it was a group effort. It’s always a pleasure to give back to St Andrew Technical, and after speaking with [Claude] Bryan a couple of years ago, I was excited to support such a meaningful cause. To represent the ‘87 team in this effort is truly an honour.”

The 1987 STATHS team, under Cyrus’s leadership, etched its name in Jamaican high school football lore by winning the Manning Cup in grand style, defeating favorites Excelsior High 6-1 in the final. Their distinctive 2-6-2 formation gave STATHS freedom to attack, with wingbacks leveling a four-man midfield that kept Excelsior on the back foot. Cyrus scored an hat-trick in the encounter, setting the tone for the historic victory, as Chris Davis, Andrew Hart, and Dennis Brown added to the tally.

Following the Manning Cup, STATHS faced the unbeaten Rusea’s High School in the Olivier Shield, where Cyrus’s goal clinched a hard-fought 1-0 victory over a team featuring future Reggae Boyz talents like Michael Graham and Aaron Lawrence. The 1987 team’s success, which also saw four members selected to the All Manning Cup team, was, according to Cyrus, a result of their bond, discipline, and focus.

Reflecting on the needs of STATHS beyond athletics, Cyrus highlighted the importance of academic excellence and well-rounded development for students. "Over the years, I’ve seen publications showing how high schools perform academically in Jamaica, and I’m not too pleased with what I’m seeing out of St Andrew Technical,” he said. “We need to shift the emphasis toward improving the school's performance academically. Sports are a subset, but we’re raising kids to become productive contributors to society."

Cyrus’s commitment to supporting STATHS extends beyond the webathon. He believes the school’s needs range from educational resources and beautification to nutrition and wellness initiatives, emphasizing that strengthening its academic performance will empower future generations.

For a fourth time in five seasons Clarendon College delayed their ISSA/Wata daCosta Cup celebrations in anticipation of Olivier Shield triumph. And for a fourth time in five seasons the decision was justified, as they reclaimed the badge of all-island supremacy after hammering Mona High 4-0 in the showpiece at the National Stadium on Wednesday.

Much like they did in a rampant display against neighbours Glenmuir High in the rural area decider, Clarendon College again demonstrated their class, seasoned with some individual flair at times, to secure their seventh Olivier Shield lien, with aplomb.

Christopher Hull with a brace in the 84th and 87th minutes, followed goals from the prolific Keheim Dixon (35th) and Deandre Gallimore (69^th), and ensured that the title they first won in 1977 — then 1978, 1998, 2018, 2019 and 2022 — returned to their Chapelton base to complement their 11th daCosta Cup hold.

Winning Coach Lenworth “Teacha” Hyde was delighted that his players enjoyed themselves in the process, particularly the seven players, who were in their final schoolboy football season. Clarendon College just missed out on the treble after they lost the Champions Cup 2-3 to Glenmuir.

“I am very happy about it; I think we worked pretty hard this season; the boys wanted it really bad and as I told you before seven of the players are leaving us, so they were hell-bent on defending the Olivier Shield and it showed. They didn’t start out well in the first half but as the game went on the got into rhythm and they enjoyed themselves which is what I told them to do,” Hyde said in a post-game interview.

The much-anticipated clash between two of the most talked about teams this season, started as expected with Manning Cup champions Mona High showing first, as they got a warning shot off 30 seconds in.

Clarendon College gradually got into their rhythm and responded in the seventh minute with a series of chances after Mona failed to clear their lines.

Both teams continued their push for the go-ahead goal, and Mona again went close in the 27th, when a neat build up ended with ended with Kshaine Gordon driving a pass across the six-yard box, but none of his teammates was around to apply the finishing touch.

They rued that missed opportunity eight minutes later when an unmarked Dixon finished a free header at the far post from Gallimore’s weighted corner, for his 32nd goal of the season.

That goal knocked the wind from Mona, and gave life to Clarendon College’s attack, as they applied pressure in a decent passage of play at the backend of the half, but couldn’t get on target.

With the score unchanged at the break, the momentum stuck with Clarendon College and they almost doubled the lead in the 58th when Dixon twirled his way into space for a right-footed shot deep that was charged down at the near post.

Mona responded three minutes later and it took a big save from Clarendon College’s Roshae Burrell to deny Romarion Thomas’s head from close range.

But, any hopes Mona harboured of a comeback, were dashed when Gallimore fired home under pressure, for his seventh of the season.

The Craig Butler-coached Mona didn’t give up though, and Thomas again found space for a right-footer from a distance that was pushed over the crossbar by Burrell.

From there, it was all Clarendon College and Hull, who first rose above Mona’s custodian Ackeem Bernard to head home from a Jahmelle Ashley corner.

And three minutes later, the player sporting the number eight jersey secured a 14th goal for the season, when he struck a sweet left-footer from close range, that proved too much for Bernard, who helped the ball into the net.

Despite the loss, Butler was gracious in defeat.

“It was about not taking the chances and we eventually broke down. But I think the boys played well but Clarendon College was the better team on the day, and so we have to give them their respect for that,” Butler said.

Clarendon College are All-Island schoolboy football champions for the sixth time after producing a stunning 3-0 win over Jamaica College in the Olivier Shield at Stadium East on Wednesday.

The Chapleton based school, who won their tenth daCosta Cup earlier in December with a 3-0 triumph over Central High at STETHS, took the lead in the 20^th minute when Marques Reid capitalized on an error from JC goalkeeper Rassico Rose to slot home his 10^th goal of the season.

Centre-back Devonti Hodges made it 2-0 just two minutes later with a thunderous strike from outside the penalty area.

With six minutes left, Keheim Dixon put the final nail in JC’s coffin with his 17^th goal of the season to secure the title, their first 2019.

Coaches, schools and referees were recognized at the first-ever Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) Awards and Presentation Ceremony at the JFF headquarters in Kingston on Tuesday.

Members of the Inter-Secondary Schools Sports Association (ISSA), principals, members of JFF staff, and members of the media were on hand to see the presentation of plaques to the schools that won trophies in the recently concluded schoolboy football season and FIFA referee badges to the new crop of FIFA referees.

“As I congratulate these schools, I want to also extend congratulations to the staff members and principals because if they didn’t support these programs, the schools wouldn’t be doing very well,” said JFF president Michael Ricketts while addressing the gathering.

“Once again, I want to say a huge congratulations. I’m just absolutely excited at the prospects that I’m seeing after not playing for such a long time and the quality of play, I think, was at a premium,” he added.

President of the Jamaica Olympic Association (JOA) Christopher Samuda also commented on the importance of ceremonies like these to highlight the outstanding performances of individuals while they are with us.

“We have a habit of recognizing people when they pass on, or when they have transitioned to another career. On behalf of the Jamaica Olympic Association, we want to congratulate the Jamaica Football Federation and all its stakeholders. This an event that should not perish and I have every conviction that it won’t,” he said.

The schools recognized were Manning Cup and Olivier Shield winners Kingston College, Walker Cup winners St. Catherine High, ISSA Champions Cup winners Clarendon College, DaCosta Cup winners Garvey Maceo High School and Ben Francis Cup winners Edwin Allen.

The referees awarded were Melvin Reid, Jermaine Yee Sing, Damian Williams, Richard Washington, Steffon Dewar, Neressa Goldson, Nicholas Anderson, Princess Brown, Ojay Duhaney, Odette Hamilton, Jassett Kerr, Oshane Nation, Damion Parchment and Stephanie Yee Sing. Eight of the 14 referees are currently on assignments overseas.

Kingston College secured their second trophy of this schoolboy football season by defeating Garvey Maceo 2-0 to secure the Olivier Shield at STETHS today.

One week after beating Jamaica College on penalties to lift the Manning Cup, the North Street-based school stood opposite daCosta Cup champions Garvey Maceo, who dominated Manning’s 5-0 to lift the title last week.

KC’s first goal came from a set-piece after Louis Watson headed home a corner from captain Jemone Barclay in the 44^th minute.

The Manning Cup champions then doubled their lead in the 54^th minute when Barclay slotted home a close-range left-footed finish.

This is KC’s first Olivier Shield since 1986 and their seventh overall.