SANTA CRUZ, St Elizabeth — It’s not that they are discounting the value of their record fourth straight hold on the ISSA/LIME Ben Francis Cup Knockout, which they took with a comfortable 2-0 victory over Manchester High on October 26.

However, those in charge of the St Elizabeth Technical High School (STETHS) football programme all say they want more. They want the ISSA/Lime daCosta Cup for 2013 to go with titles won in 1974, 1999 and 2009.

“I would be very disappointed if we don’t win the daCosta Cup this year, simply because I believe we have the best team in the competition,” Principal Keith Wellington told the Jamaica Observer Central.

“Once we qualify from the Interzone round we expect to go all the way and win,” said Wellington.

STETHS are well on their way, having secured 4-1 and 3-0 victories over Christiana High and Lennon High respectively in the interzone round of the daCosta Cup so far. A draw with lowly BB Coke High on Wednesday will secure STETHS a place in the final eight (quarter final stage).

STETHS Coach Omar Wedderburn is of like mind. “Anybody reach to this stage and don’t win would have to be very disappointed,” he said. “We have gone four years winning the Ben Francis, yet we haven’t won the daCosta Cup since 2009, it’s time to break that chain and win the daCosta Cup, and I think we have the team to do it because this is a mature team. For many of these boys it’s their last chance.”

Wendell Downswell, technical director of the school’s football programme and the real inspiration behind STETHS football since the 1980s, believes a deep hunger for success will bring home the daCosta Cup title.

“These boys are pretty focused and they want to be part of a historic achievement,” said Downswell, who coached STETHS all the way to their only all-island Olivier Shield title in 1999.

He refused to be drawn on the potential of the current team to win the all-island title. “One thing at a time; let’s take care of the daCosta Cup first,” said Downswell.