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‘Mount Pleasant did it’
June 12, 2023
The parish of St Ann celebrated way into last night after Mount Pleasant Football Academy (MPFA) brought home their first national football title with a 2-1 win over Cavalier in the Jamaica Premier League (JPL) final at Sabina Park.
Sue-Lae McCalla netted both goals in the seventh and 89th minutes, with Colin Anderson getting the equaliser for Cavalier with his 20th goal of the season in the 83rd, as the big spenders of St Ann were not to be denied.
Club owner Peter Gould was ecstatic after the final whistle.
"I am so highly delighted. Look at them all (the fans). We gave everything, and we did it. We did it," he said.
He added that despite Cavalier's late equaliser, they never showed any sign of panic and held on to create history.
"We didn't look like it (panic). We came again, and it was fantastic. A great performance, and tactically the manager got it right again," he commented.
Mount Pleasant jumped in front after only seven minutes when McCalla headed home from a corner.
Both teams had good openings afterwards but failed to use their chances.
Mount Pleasant controlled the game and gave Cavalier very little to nibble at, until seven minutes from the end, when Anderson turned home a low cross to get back on level terms.
However, before Cavalier had time to savour the goal, McCalla headed home a second corner on the night, a minute from time to secure the victory.
"This is not for me, it's for the players," said winning coach Theodore Whitmore. "This is my first time winning the league, and creating history and bringing the trophy to St Ann.
"The people of St Ann deserve it. The Goulds deserve it. We have to accept it and move on. Tonight (Sunday) is the celebrations but come Tuesday we have to start again," he said.
Losing coach Rudolph Speid was disappointed with the way they conceded.
"We conceded the same goal, the same way twice. That does not happen often," Speid said.
