‘We did it for Diego’ - Munro dedicates second-round qualification to their late 14-year-old baller

October 16, 2019
St Elizabeth Technical High School captain Antonio Biggs (right) tracks Munro College’s Torain Young during their ISSA/WATA daCosta Cup game at Munro on September 14.
St Elizabeth Technical High School captain Antonio Biggs (right) tracks Munro College’s Torain Young during their ISSA/WATA daCosta Cup game at Munro on September 14.

Seven-time daCosta Cup champions Munro College, who booked a spot in the second (seeded) round of the ISSA/WATA daCosta Cup as one of best third-place teams, dedicate their qualification to former student and footballer Diego Desouza, who passed away last Wednesday.

Desouza, 14-year-old third form student, was a promising footballer who died of natural causes in his sleep in the school's dormitory last Wednesday.

"It means a tremendous amount. The boys did say 'Let's do it for Diego' and we're going to fight for his sake. Part of which they have taken from the tragedy is motivation. He was part of our football programme too, the Under-14, so he was well known by most of the boys on the squad," Smith said.

Munro defeated Newell High School 2-0 in their last game of the first round to amass 22 points from 12 games.

The Malvern-based school is ranked as the 31st seed and is drawn to face second seed Cornwall College tomorrow at 4 p.m.

"It is a really tremendous achievement for them despite the many challenges to now be part of the second round," he said.

Smith is aware of the rivalry between both Munro and Cornwall College as both schools share 13 daCosta Cup titles between 1950 and 1964 combined. And for this reason, he believes the matchup will make an exciting game.

"A lot of people are looking forward to this match with the history of both teams. Munro is known to raise its game when going up against top opposition so we are expecting that the boys will dig deep and really give us a hell of a match," Smith said.

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