JPL title in range, Ferguson yearns for respect

Success has followed Mount Pleasant's assistant coach Davion Ferguson, from his exploits at the schoolboy football level to now being close to winning the Jamaica Premier League title. It is a journey that he hopes will lead him back into the national team programme, but only if the circumstances are ideal.

Mount Pleasant will face Cavalier in Sunday's final at Sabina Park, in a season that has seen the duo of Ferguson and head coach Theodore Whitmore, in their first season, take Mount Pleasant into their maiden final.

Six months after Ferguson won Jamaica College's second Manning Cup title in three years, he has brought that same winning mentality to Drax Hall. It is the similarities with both programmes that he believed he could add value when Whitmore approached him to be a part of the staff.

"I'll always refer to Jamaica College because those are my roots. I have a lot of respect for the institution. I am coming from a school that institutionalises winning. We are used to these pressure situations, these pressure moments. There are similarities between both Mount Pleasant and JC in terms of we have an organisation that is capable of getting the job done," Ferguson told STAR Sports.

Even with what he has done in his career, he says he is still awaiting the chance to get back into the national team picture at the youth level, but it has to be the right situation, although he is no less patriotic in his stance of wanting to serve his country.

"Before 2017, I had little to no recognition. Fast-forward to now, I have won many titles. I have done so much at Mount Pleasant, but there is still no recognition in giving an opportunity in the programme to coach one of these youth teams. I don't know what else needs to be done for that recognition to come.

"I have no issue with Jamaica, but if I am going to work in the programme, it has to be on certain grounds. But contrary to what people think, that is not true. It just means it has to be on a particular level," Ferguson said.

Ferguson's immediate focus is to reward a fan base who he says is deserving of a title, as well as an owner who is committed to the development of Jamaica's football.

"St Ann people are mad lovers of football. They support their team to the ground. It is deserving of them. They are the only team outside of the Corporate Area that can pull the level of support that Mount Pleasant Academy can bring in a stadium. They light up any environment. I think for them they deserve it, but more importantly, our owner Peter Gould deserves it," Ferguson said.