STATHS, KC win all-island titles
Published:Wednesday | January 15, 2025 | 12:21 AMLivingston Scott/Gleaner Writer
URBAN CHAMPIONS St Andrew Technical High School (STATHS) and Kingston College (KC) crowned themselves ISSA Mighty Malt Under-16 and Burger King Under-14 All-Island schoolboy football champions with comprehensive wins over rural winners, Glenmuir and The Manning’s School, respectively, at the Glenmuir High School yesterday.
In the under-16 matchup, STATHS, with two goals each from Shankeno Grant (29th and 52nd minutes) and Christiana Brown (75’, 80+2’), cruised to a 7-0 win over Manning’s.
While KC turned back hosts Glenmuir 3-0 on a hat trick from Javaun Buckridge (28’, 45’, 70+1’).
In the opening game, Buckridge broke the deadlock late in the first half, when he combined with Nthanda Scott before firing home.
The big striker capitalised on a back pass in the second half to put his team 2-0 up before sealing the win with a strike from 25 yards out, late in the match.
“I am feeling great. My teammates helped me to score the goals. We trained and trained and came out and did our best,” said Buckridge, who ended the season with 30 goals.
KC coach Damion McLean said they were well prepared.
“Going into this game, we were prepared for it. We tried and got it right this time because in the preseason they gave us a 4-0 beating. So we came back into this game to enjoy ourselves and execute, and that we did,” he said.
In the feature match, goals from D’Mari Gouldbourne (25’), Shakeno Grant, and Kirk King (30’), put STATHS 3-0 up at half-time.
While second-half goals Grant (52’), Tarance Hall (73’) and a late brace from Christiana Brown (75’, 80+2’), completed the rout.
“It is a really special feeling. We have been practising all season for this. It is a trophy the school has never won before. So we are grateful for this one,” said winning coach Anthony Bennett.
The two winning teams also received $11,000 worth of Burger King vouchers from the sponsor for every goal their team scored, meaning KC walked away with $33,000 worth and STATHS 77,000 worth of vouchers.