THE 2010 Jamaica National-sponsored STETHS Cup pre-season football tournament is set to kick off next weekend and the sponsors and officials at the school are optimistic that this year’s renewal will be a great precursor for the upcoming daCosta season which kicks off in the first week of September.

The tournament, which is in its second year, was officially launched at the St Elizabeth Technical High School (STETHS) Auditorium last week Tuesday.

Head coach at STETHS, Andrew Edwards, who has been at the school for the past two seasons and who guided the team to their third daCosta Cup title last season, says were it not for the vision of principal Keith Wellington, the STETHS Cup wouldn’t be a reality.

The competition this year will involve four teams — hosts and defending champions STETHS, former Manning Cup champions Bridgeport High, 2007 daCosta Cup winners Garvey Maceo High and 2008 title-holders St James High.

Edwards, who conceptualised the tournament and who is also the organiser, says two games will be contested over the two days of August 28 and 29.

On Saturday, Bridgeport will face St James at 2:00 pm while STETHS will tackle Garvey Maceo at 4:00 pm.

On Sunday, Garvey Maceo entertain Bridgeport in the curtain-raiser, and STETHS and St James will face-off at 4:00 pm.

Three points will be awarded for a win, one point for a draw and one point for every goal scored. There will also be individual awards which include MVP, Golden Boot, Top Midfielder, Top Defender and Top Goalkeeper.

Regional manager at Jamaica National, Hilret Hanson, said his company was pleased to come on board for the tournament.

“We’re a community-based organisation with two branches in St Elizabeth — one in Junction and the other in Santa Cruz — and we thought it appropriate to come together with STETHS to help them with a programme such as this,” Hanson said.

Hanson, on behalf of the financial institution, presented the sponsorship cheque of $250,000 to Edwards.

— Michael McLean