St Elizabeth Technical High School (STETHS) and Excelsior High are gearing up for one of the most eagerly awaited fixtures in Jamaican schoolboy football—the Olivier Shield decider—scheduled for Wednesday, January 7, according to ISSA President Keith Wellington.
While the final venue is yet to be confirmed, options are being considered between the National Stadium and the adjacent Stadium East field, promising a stage befitting this high-stakes encounter.
The Olivier Shield pits the champions of the urban Manning Cup against the victors of the rural daCosta Cup in a battle for national supremacy. Initially slated for December 13, 2025, the clash was postponed after Hurricane Melissa forced a pause in the football calendar, delaying the conclusion of the season into the new year.
The Shield carries a legacy dating back to 1909 when Sir Sydney Haldane Olivier, Governor of Jamaica from 1907 to 1913, donated the trophy to foster competition between urban and rural schools. Early contenders such as Jamaica College, St George’s College, and Munro College established a tradition of excellence that continues to this day. Jamaica College leads the historical tally with 22 titles, while Munro College and St George’s College follow with 17 and 13, respectively. Cornwall College and Kingston College each have 11.
STETHS enters the match on the back of their sixth daCosta Cup triumph, aiming to claim their second Olivier Shield, their first coming in 1999. Excelsior, meanwhile, is chasing a third Shield victory, having shared the title in 1993 and secured it outright in 2003.
Modern-day rules have done away with the practice of sharing the Shield; the winner is now determined on the field, with draws resolved by penalty shootouts. Kingston College currently holds the Shield, having edged Garvey Mace 4-3 on penalties last year, setting the benchmark for a new champion to emerge.
As both teams prepare to tip the balance of schoolboy football, anticipation is building for what promises to be a thrilling contest, one that will etch the victor’s name into the annals of Jamaican football history.
