FOR 43 long years, St Andrew Technical High School (STATHS) have been chasing a second Manning Cup title.

Their only triumph came in remarkable fashion in 1987, when they shocked the football fraternity by dismantling a heavily favoured Excelsior High 6-1 in the final.

Morris Cyrus was the star of the show, scoring a hat-trick to etch his name into Manning Cup folklore. To this day, he remains the only player to score three goals in a final.

But since that memorable night, STATHS have been unable to replicate their success.

And what has made the drought most painful is the fact that they have come agonisingly close on several occasions. The school has lost three Manning Cup finals to Jamaica College (JC), with each defeat coming after penalty shoot-outs.

Head coach Phillip Williams is hoping his latest crop of players can finally break the jinx.

St Andrew Technical High Mikel Riley (left) tackles Jamaica College’s Phillon Lawrence during the ISSA Manning Cup football match at Stadium East field in November 2019. St Andrew Technical won 2-1. (Photo: Garfield Robinson)

Williams took over the STATHS football programme in 2017 and has since guided the school to three Manning Cup finals and a Walker Cup final. Unfortunately, all four ended in heartbreak against JC.

But rather than allowing those disappointments to weigh heavily on his players, Williams believes they have become an important source of motivation.

“Forty-three years is too long for a school like STATHS. With experienced players leading talented youngsters, we have a squad that can compete. If we stay together, stay disciplined, and keep improving, we have every chance to end the drought,” Williams said.

The technical drawing teacher believes the desire to rewrite the school’s history is shared throughout the squad.

“The returners know that feeling. The youngsters are hearing about it daily. We’re using that history as motivation. STATHS deserves to get over the hump, and this group is hungry to be the one that does it,” he added.

Williams has kept eight players from last season who he expects to provide the leadership and experience necessary for a deep run in the competition.

WILLIAMS… if we stay together, stay disciplined, and keep improving, we have every chance to end the drought

“They’re our leaders and set the standard. We’ve also promoted 10 players from the Under-16 programme, so it’s a good blend of experience guiding youth,” he explained.

STATHS will enter this season’s Manning Cup at the second-round stage as one of the seeded teams. They have been placed in a challenging group featuring Kingston College, St George’s College and Tivoli Gardens High, along with two teams expected to advance from the opening round.

The revised competition format is expected to produce competitive matches from the outset, something Williams says his team must be prepared for.

“The outlook for the new format is showing that all games will be competitive, which means that the teams must be ready from match day one. We have been given time to prepare for the new format, which is key. Liking it or not, for me, isn’t important,” Williams said.

Rather than looking too far ahead, Williams is focused on ensuring that STATHS develop a winning mentality while continuing to nurture their young players.

“We’re building. The expectation is to be competitive every game, play our style, and push for play-offs. We want to develop these young players fast while staying in the hunt. Top four is the target,” he said.

So far, Williams has been encouraged by the progress.

“Preparations are going well. The blend of experienced players and youngsters is coming together, and the work rate has been excellent,” he noted.

For a school that has waited more than four decades for another Manning Cup crown, the motivation is clear.

The memories of 1987 remain, as do the painful final defeats that followed.

But STATHS are hoping this year’s combination of experience, youth and determination will finally deliver what generations of players have failed to achieve — a second Manning Cup title.