9 FROM ONE INSTITUTION TO PLAY IN QUALIFIERS SEEN AS HISTORIC
RUNAWAY BAY, St Ann; March 4, 2025
Mount Pleasant Football Academy has been celebrating the involvement of nine of its students who participated in the recent CONCACAF Under-17 World Cup qualifiers.
(From right Damario Harewood (back), Earl Dennis (front left), Owen Jumpp (front) Thierry Morille (back) Franco Celestin (front with plaque), Jamarie Nolan (back), Emerson Laisse (without plaque), Shevon Byron and Miguel Joseph (extreme left)
At a ceremony at the academy near Runaway Bay, St Ann, Tuesday, March 4, 2025, the boys were recognized and the institution lauded for its historic achievement.
(Students at the Mt Pleasant Academy during Tuesday’s function)
“The boys have been able to achieve something very great,” said coach Errol Stevens. He said history was being made when nine students from one institution were able to play in the World Cup regional football qualifier
(Team Sports: Chief Coach at Mt Pleasant Theodore Tappa Whitmore has a word with Netball Jamaica President Tricia Robinson, after the recognition ceremony, In other picture, Principal Shamora Brown delivers the welcome)
Three of the nine were from Jamaica, one from Barbados, two from St Lucia and three from Haiti. Haiti was the only nation from the Caribbean to qualify for the finals.
The Jamaicans are Earl Dennis, Owen Jumpp, and Jahmarie Nolan.
From St Lucia, Thierry Morille and Shevon Byron.
From Barbados Damario Harewood, and from the Haiti team: Franco Celestine, Miguel Joseph and Emerson Laisse.
Guest speaker, sports management consultant Carole Beckford said the Caribbean unity implied in the fact that the boys were from four nations reminded her of the promise of the Caribbean. She looked back at the footballing history of St Ann, late in the 1980s and 90s and said the parish supported four good football teams – Volvo, Benfica, Brazil and Black Stars. Mt Pleasant is living off that Rich History, she said. She thanked the owners of the Mt Pleasant Academy, Peter and Amanda Gould, for their investment in the institution and its people.
Head Coach of Mr Pleasant Theodore ‘Tappa’ Withore congratulated the boys and told those who were not going on to the finals that they did well and it was important how they handled that challenge. He encouraged the boys from Haiti who will be playing in the finals to remember they were role models also for the boys at the Academy.
Principal Shamora Brown did the welcome. Owen Jumpp did the vote of thanks. Emcee was teacher Alejandra Williams.
