Excelsior High won the All-Island Olivier Shield title after defeating St Elizabeth Technical High School (STETHS) 2-0 at the Stadium East field yesterday with coach Keon Broderick noting that his boys proved they can balance academics with sports.

Terrence Williams and Kivann Salmon netted the goals in the 10th and 87th minutes respectively, enabling Excelsior High to gain their third lien on the Olivier Shield and their first outright win following shared successes in 2003 with Frome Technical and in 1993 with Rusea’s High.

Williams opened the scoring from the penalty spot and Salmon put the icing on the cake late, firing home a low drive from just inside the box.

Broderick, who led Excelsior High as they ended a 21-year title drought in the Manning Cup, have now helped his team to their first outright win in the Olivier Shield, having first won the Manning Cup in 1953.

“It’s a tremendous feeling when you can see the way how we go about putting this programme together. It’s not just about football, it’s about the entire student. Each player balanced academics with football,” said Broderick.

Meanwhile, STETHS, the sentimental favourites based on the struggles they faced from the damage of Hurricane Melissa, fought bravely and coach Omar Wedderburn said his team just didn’t have it today.

“I didn’t think we came out with that fighting, power-free spirit today,” said Wedderburn.

“The two teams have similar qualities. We didn’t do our best today, not our very best,” he added.

Wedderburn, said he wanted to win the tile for the parish as a morale booster, as they recover from the hurricane devastation in October.

“Sorry we couldn’t pull this one off, but better things to come. Keep that smile on your face,” said Wedderburn as he addressed his travelling fans.

It was a keenly contested event between two evenly matched teams that fought hard for schoolboy supremacy. In the end, it was a deserving victory for Excelsior.

It was not the biggest of crowds at the Stadium East facility but the Excelsior Eagles cared less as they celebrated with chants of “Age a big side” interspersed with the blowing of vuvuzelas as the decibel level reached a crescendo at the sound of the final whistle.

The Olivier Shield remained in the corporate area following Kingston College’s win last year over Garvey Maceo. The last daCosta Cup team to win the Olivier Shield was Clarendon College, who won in 2022 and 2023.

With both teams earning six players each on the All Manning and All daCosta Cup teams, the stage was set for an epic battle and it showed as they nullified each other for most of the game.

Excelsior struck early from the penalty spot after diminutive striker Kimarly Scott latched onto a long ball and was uprooted by goalkeeper Johnoi Steadman inside the box and referee Alexi Perry had no hesitation in pointing to the spot.

Captain Williams stepped up with a calm and composed finish, gave Excelsior an early lead.

Raheim Whyte got a chance to pull STETHS level, but his shot was partially blocked and trickled to the goalkeeper in the 15th minute and the outstanding R-Jay Newman shot straight at the goalkeeper as they pressed for the levelling goal.

But the well-organised Excelsior stood firm and just as they did in the Manning Cup final, Salmon popped up and killed off the encounter late on.

Excelsior, which lost the Walker Cup and The Under-16 finals in 2024 are now double champions and can claim the title as the best team on the island.