The stage is set for one of the most prestigious fixtures in Jamaican schoolboy football as St Elizabeth Technical High School (STETHS) prepares to face Excelsior High on Wednesday, January 7, in the Olivier Shield decider, ISSA President Keith Wellington confirmed.
The final’s venue is still under consideration, with the National Stadium and Stadium East both in contention. The annual showdown pits the Manning Cup champions, representing the urban schools, against the daCosta Cup winners from rural Jamaica, in a contest that has defined the schoolboy football landscape for over a century.
Originally slated for December 13, 2025, the match was postponed due to Hurricane Melissa’s disruption, pushing the season’s climax into the new year. This delay only adds to the anticipation as both teams aim to etch their names into the history of the country’s oldest inter-school football competition.
The Olivier Shield, donated in 1909 by then-Governor Sir Sydney Haldane Olivier, has a rich legacy. Over the decades, powerhouse institutions such as Jamaica College, St George’s College, and Munro College have dominated the competition, with JC leading the all-time title count at 22. Munro College and St George’s College follow with 17 and 13 titles respectively, while Cornwall College and Kingston College have each lifted the Shield 11 times.
STETHS enters the match with the momentum of their sixth daCosta Cup victory and is seeking only their second Olivier Shield triumph, the first coming in 1999. Excelsior High, champions in 1993 (shared with Rusea’s High) and outright winners in 2003, are chasing a third all-island title.
Unlike the early years, when the Shield could be shared following a drawn two-leg tie, today’s contest delivers a definitive winner, with penalties now deciding any deadlocks. Kingston College, last year’s champions, retained the Shield after a tense 4-3 penalty shootout win over Garvey Mace High in 2024.
As January 7 approaches, football enthusiasts across Jamaica are bracing for a clash that promises drama, history, and the crowning of the nation’s premier schoolboy football team.
