Khesanio Hall (centre) and his jubilant STETHS teammates hold aloft the Ben Francis Cup after it was presented to them by the Inter-Secondary Schools Sports Association (ISSA) president, Dr Walton Small (left), and Stephen Miller (fourth right), sponsorship manager, LIME. STETHS won the title 2-0 over Manchester High. - Paul Clarke

Western Bureau:

Regardless of the outcome of this afternoon's second-leg Olivier Shield clash between daCosta Cup champions St Elizabeth Technical High School (STETHS) and Manning Cup kingpins Jamaica College, the 2013 LIME/ISSA schoolboy football season should go down as one with many rich memories.

Unlike many of the tournaments in recent years, which was marred by bad behaviour by persons like former Jamaica College coach Alfred Henry, this season stood out as a perfect example of what I am sure ISSA and the sponsors have always wanted to see, exemplary behaviour. It is against this background that I believe the Dr Walton Small-led ISSA should be congratulated for a well-planned and executed season, which has had no glitches of note so far.

The various principals, coaches, players and spectators should also be warmly congratulated for demonstrating that a schoolboy season can be completed without any major incidents.

From a purely behavioural perspective, I would like to extend special congratulations to Jamaica College, especially their principal, Ruel Reid, and team manager, Ian Forbes. The school was a model of discipline all season and the fact that they emerged as Manning Cup champions without any cantankerous or boorish behaviour speaks volumes of the school's new attitude.

While I naturally feel compelled to congratulate all the various stakeholders in this year's competition, I feel especially pleased with what rural champions STETHS have achieved so far. In winning both the daCosta Cup and Ben Francis Knockout titles, the team has left no doubt that they are indeed the kingpins of rural schoolboy football.

For as far back as I can remember, I have been a great admirer of the way STETHS treat sports and academics with equal respect. As a result of that concept, the school has developed the enviable tradition of turning out well-rounded students who are equally adept at displaying excellence in both sports and academics.

One just needs to compare how the STETHS footballers and cricketers acquit themselves in media interviews to realise that, unlike some of their counterparts in other schools, their total development is being taken care of. It is no wonder the STETHS students do so well when they go to overseas institutions on sports and academic scholarships.

Personally, I believe STETHS' principal, Keith Wellington, should be singled out for special praise because there is no question that his hands-on approach to promoting the wholesale development of his students has set his school apart as an institution where a proper foundation is being laid for future excellence.

In an era where the hunger for success has driven some schools to exploit their students for sporting glory, STETHS has taken the enviable decision that their student athletes will not get away with ignoring their academics, and must subscribe to the policy that there must be a happy marriage between 'ball and book.'

Unlike some schools where the principal leaves the sporting development of their students in the hands of coaches, sometimes to their detriment, with principal Wellington, he is totally involved and could easily be mistaken for a physical education teacher whenever STETHS is involved in sporting activities ranging from football right through to cricket, track and field, and netball.

Having seen how Wellington's hands-on approach has worked so well; I believe the Ministry of Education should be seeking to offer the STETHS model as the blueprint to all high schools who are truly committed to ensuring that all students be given a fair chance to realise their fullest potential.

Feel free to send your feedback to adrianfrater@hotmail.com.