Mount Pleasant Football Academy Clinches First Jamaica Premier League Title!
Mount Pleasant Football Academy, fueled by significant investments in 2016, has finally realised its dream of becoming Jamaica’s football standard-bearer.
After securing promotion to the nation’s top-flight league in 2018, the team triumphed in a keenly contested final against Cavalier Football Club, capturing their first Jamaica Premier League (JPL) title.
The hero of the final was Sue Lae McCalla, whose brace in the 7th and 89th minutes secured the championship for Mount Pleasant with a 2-1 victory. Collin Anderson had equalised for Cavalier in the 83rd minute, reaching an impressive milestone of 20 goals for the season, a feat not accomplished since Craig Foster in the 2014-15 season.
McCalla, who had previously won a JPL title with Portmore United, had lightheartedly predicted before the game that he would score two goals, one at each end of the park. Remarkably, his words became reality, and he considered these goals the most important of his Premier League career out of his total tally of 24 goals. McCalla, who wore the captain’s armband for the majority of the game, expressed his pride in leading by example and contributing to his team’s victory, believing that this achievement would become part of his legacy.
Owner Peter Goule, displaying the willingness to invest further in the team, is now poised to improve Mount Pleasant even more. Head coach Theodore “Tappa” Whitmore, a former Reggae Boyz captain, expressed his pride in the collective efforts of the players, support staff, and management. He acknowledged the challenges faced throughout the tough season but highlighted the necessary adjustments made along the way. Whitmore believes that this victory is just the beginning of a journey that will lead to many more JPL honors, underscoring the crucial support provided by the Goule family.
The final lived up to expectations, offering a thrilling showdown between two quality teams. Over 10,000 fans, many of whom traveled from St Ann, were not disappointed. McCalla’s headed goal from Devonte Campbell’s corner sent the crowd into a frenzy, giving Mount Pleasant supporters a reason to cheer. Despite losing captain Ladale Richie to injury in the 25th minute, Mount Pleasant’s determined players continued to fight, aiming to add to their lead. However, their lack of proper positioning and decision-making denied them on several occasions.
Cavalier also had their moments, but their few looks at goal did not result in a breakthrough. Stewart’s delayed effort was charged down by the vigilant Barclett, who ensured that the score remained 1-0 at halftime. The second half offered little excitement until Anderson’s timely goal threatened to push the game into extra time. However, McCalla once again proved decisive, expertly heading past Barclett from Ricardo Morris’s corner in the final minute.
The jubilation of the Mount Pleasant camp was evident as jubilant fans flooded the Sabina Park field. Meanwhile, Cavalier’s head coach, Rudolph Speid, and his players experienced clear disappointment. Speid expressed his belief that if the match had gone into extra time, his team would have seized the advantage, as Mount Pleasant’s quality seemed to diminish due to numerous substitutions. However, the two headed goals by McCalla, a scenario he had never anticipated, dashed Cavalier’s hopes of extending the game.
With their maiden JPL title secured, Mount Pleasant Football Academy now looks forward to a promising future, aiming to build on this success and create a legacy of continued triumph in Jamaican football.
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