‘If you nah seh God you nah seh nutten’ - Hero goalie says team mantra was driving force behind STETHS success

St Elizabeth Technical High School (STETHS) hero, goalkeeper Johnoi Steadman, says the team's main objective was to make the parish proud by capturing the ISSA WATA daCosta Cup schoolboy football title.

STETHS' resilience and composure were on full display in the final, where they edged Glenmuir High School 8-7 in a thrilling penalty shootout. This after both teams played out a 0-0 draw through regulation time.

"Despite everything that we have been through during the hurricane, I just wanted to bring life back into St Elizabeth," said Steadman, who finished the season with 15 clean sheets.

"I couldn't have done all this without the defence line, the entire team and the coaching staff. Our theme throughout the season is the power of we, 'if yuh nah seh God yuh nah seh nothing'," added Steadman.

The dramatic victory secured STETHS' sixth daCosta Cup title, further underlining their dominance in schoolboy football.

The 16-year-old Steadman has been a key figure in STETHS' title push, providing leadership and calmness for the only unbeaten team in the competition.

In the dramatic finale, it was Steadman's brilliant saves which proved the deciding factor to get STETHS over the hump.

Adding to the school's accolades, STETHS were the 2024 Ben Francis Cup KO champions, then winning their seventh knockout crown.

'FOOTBALL IS LIFE'

Asked about his passion for football, Steadman said it helps him overcome challenges.

"Football is life for me, it takes my problems away. I can't see myself without it. Words can't express how passionate I am about the sport," said Steadman, who is the reserve goalkeeper on Jamaica's national under-17 team.

He started playing football quite young and aspires to play overseas, noting that he is driven by the desire to be a success story for his family.

"I'm not from a rich background, so I want to be that person in the family who stands out and makes them proud," Steadman said, highlighting the motivation his family provides.

With the zeal to do his best, the hard-working goalkeeper is still recovering from an injury he picked up early this season.

"I am slowly recovering from it but it is getting better each day," he admitted.

As STETHS look ahead to the Olivier Shield on January 10, Steadman said the aim is to win.

"We just have to go out there and repeat what we did in the d'Cup final. That is to adhere to the coach's instructions and stick to the game plan."

MOVED TO TEARS

Omar 'Rambo' Wedderburn, veteran coach of STETHS, has been with the team for 13 years. During his tenure, STETHS have won five daCosta Cup titles and five Ben Francis KO competitions.

An overwhelmed Wedderburn was moved to tears after the final whistle. "Some of the fans are going home without no current (electricity) or water, so we used that as a motivator. If it is even this we can give them for Christmas, we're gonna give it to them," said Wedderburn.

STETHS played the majority of the second half with 10 men after Jade Lynch was red-carded in the 55th minute.

"We went down to 10 men, but we have a thing that we say, 'the power of we'; and that is when the power chipped in. Words can't express how I feel," added Wedderburn.

With Steadman putting on a class act, Wedderburn said he executed well.

"When you want to win a tournament everyone has to play their part and Saturday was his time. He came and executed the right way," admitted Wedderburn.