He hasn’t been involved this season because of a major knee injury that required surgery, but former Cougars captain Kwame Steede has still had an inspirational role to play this season as one of the team’s assistant coaches.The team didn’t have the best possible start to the campaign, losing talented young midfielder Tumaini Steede to a road accident last summer and then his cousin Kwame to a torn ACL that required surgery, reconstruction and months on the sideline. But the Cougars players used the adversity to motivate them and are dedicating their success this season to Tumaini.“I’m very proud of them because a lot of people thought they couldn’t do it without players like me and I always thought that they could,” said Steede. “They just needed that push and I guess my cousin Tumaini was that inspiration for them.”Cougars didn’t enjoy a good start to the season, eliminated from the Dudley Eve after two losses in their group, before starting the league campaign with a 3-3 draw against Wolves, a 4-1 win over Robin Hood and a crushing 5-2 home loss to the champions Dandy Town on October 12, a result that proved to be the turning point in their season.“They came off the back end of my cousin’s passing and didn’t have any real senior players in the team but I knew they were going to get it together and they did at the right time,” said the midfielder.“The Dudley Eve was a test for them with the coach trying to stamp his authority in his second season. He shared what his goal was and I think the Dudley Eve was more or less like a stepping stone. I don’t think we went out there to win it, but more so to iron out our kinks. The league was always the main goal and I felt as soon as we started to get into a rhythm it was only a matter of time.“I thought the loss to Dandy Town really sparked us because we haven’t looked back since that loss, we haven’t lost a game since.”Both during good times and bad, it has been difficult for Steede to watch from the sideline knowing that he wasn’t able to contribute as a player.“It’s been a struggle because I’m a season to season player and this is the first season I have not played at all,” said the veteran player. “But to be on the bench you are able to see more and help out in different areas. It was frustrating not to play at certain times and I felt there were certain games where they could have used a little bit of experience but I had all faith is us doing it.“I tore my ACL and right now it is healing and I’m going through the rebuilding process so hopefully I can make pre-season and be back with the team. Reconstruction of the knee was done in October and they told me it would be at least seven months. I could have pushed it and made the tailend of the season but decided to let it heal properly. My therapist will tell me when I can start running and doing certain other things.”Winning the Triple Crown will be a first for the club, but Steede is confident the players will handle the extra pressure knowing they can dedicate the unique achievement to Tumaini.“First and foremost everybody came together and said this season was for my cousin and that they were doing it for him,” said Steede. “This season is for my cousin and for the other fallen soldiers who played for us.“Losing him (Tumaini) hurt because at the time he was overseas trying to get in school. I don’t think there is more pressure on us because the team has always taken one game at a time. We’ve got Village, then Rangers, then Rangers again in the FA semi-final. We just need to focus on one game at a time and our next game is Village, not Rangers. We do have it (Triple Crown) in our sight and as long as we stay focused we can go all the way.”Asked to single out a player who has made a significant contribution this season, Steede pointed to new captain Chris Caisey for his performances in midfield. “Chris is a shy guy but has led the team with his strengths and has taken the team to another level,” said Steede.“I’ve led the team as captain but for me Chris will be the biggest captain yet if he leads the team to the Triple Crown. He has really led the team this season and coming down to the end of the season he took the onus to go and play down in the back and has never played down in the back before. I’m proud of him.”Cougars have now won the league four times under four coaches, Andrew Bascome, Shawn Smith, Devarr Boyles and now Dennis Brown who had a challenging first season as coach.“I also have to single out the coach because the first year was a hard year for him but he really stamped his authority on the team this year. Congrats on his first league title and I’m glad we’re the team that gave it to him. I hope he falls in love with us and stays around for a little while.”