STETHS, 'Bogle' desperate to claim first Ben Francis Cup

Adrian Frater, News Editor

Western Bureau:

DaCosta Cup champions, St Elizabeth Technical High School (STETHS), and first-time finalists, Paul Bogle High School, will both be chasing history this afternoon when they square off in the final of 2010 Ben Francis Cup Knockout football competition at Jarrett Park in Montego Bay, starting at 3 o'clock.

While STETHS have one prior unsuccessful trip to the Ben Francis KO final, this is not only Paul Bogle's first final outing, but also the first time they are contesting the competition, which is reserved for the zone winners in the preliminary round of the daCosta Cup - symbol of rural schoolboy football supremacy.

The two teams, who are bubbling with confidence, earned a place in the final in contrasting style on Wednesday afternoon, with semi-final wins over St James High and Manchester High, respectively.

STETHS cut down St James High 4-1 on penalties, after the teams had played out a regulation and extra-time 2-2 stalemate. Paul Bogle clipped Manchester High 1-0 in extra time, after regulation play had ended 0-0.

Aiming to dominate

While STETHS are no strangers to winning major titles, having won the daCosta Cup in 1974, 1999 and 2009, coach Andrew Edwards said that at the start of the season they had the Ben Francis Cup in their cross hairs, and now that they are in the final they are confident that they will be taking back this title to Santa Cruz.

"Like our cricketers who have built a dynasty in regard to winning the Headley Cup cricket competition, we are aiming to dominate football in much the same way," said Edwards.

"We intend to make the Ben Francis Cup the first of the three titles we are targeting this year," he added.

Based on the guts and determination they showed in winning Zone F of the daCosta Cup and knocking off Marcus Garvey High in their Ben Francis KO games, many pundits are already declaring the blue and gold standard-bearers from St Bess as a safe bet to join the 10 previous winners of the competition, which had its inception in 1982.

Paul Bogle, the first school from St Thomas to have reached a major schoolboy final, believes history is beckoning them and, according to coach Winston Downie, he believes the time has come for the St Thomas school to join the elite band that have worn the mantle of rural high school knockout champions.

"We want to win this one for the people of St Thomas and we are very confident that we have the team to get the job done," said Downie.

"Reaching the final is the best thing that has happened to Paul Bogle, and we hope to better that by winning the title," Downie added.

While they still continue to wear the badge as this season's 'surprise package', having topped Zone L of the daCosta Cup ahead of teams like St Thomas Technical and Morant Bay, and then knocking off Old Harbour and Manchester High in the Ben Francis KO, there can be no doubt that Paul Bogle merit being considered a legitimate contender.

In terms of their respective records this season, the teams are not far apart as while STETHS are unbeaten, Paul Bogle lost only one game. STETHS's record reads 12 games, 10 wins and two draws, with 40 goals scored and four against, while Paul Bogle have nine wins and one loss from 10 games, scoring 35 goals and conceding four.

Winners down the years

1982 - Vere Technical

1983 - Cornwall College

1984 - Cornwall College

1985 - Rusea's

1986 - Herbert Morrison

1987 - Rusea's

1988 - Herbert Morrison

1989 - Clarendon College

1990 - Clarendon College

1991 - Cornwall College

1992 - Rusea's

1993 - Glenmuir

1994 - Glenmuir

1995 - Cornwall College

1996 - Rusea's

1997 - Suspended due to threat against teachers

1998 - Clarendon College

1999 - Glenmuir

2000 - Cornwall College

2001 - Cornwall College

2002 - Old Harbour

2003 - Cornwall College

2004 - Glenmuir

2005 - Glenmuir

2006 - Frome Technical

2007 - Garvey Maceo

2008 - St James

2009 - Glenmuir

2010 - ?