Whitmore: “The energy is palpable” as Mount Pleasant awaits Champions Cup Debut | OneFootball

KINGSTON, Jamaica — Mount Pleasant Football Academy is eager to take the field as it continues to revel in its watershed moment of qualifying for the Concacaf Champions Cup, the confederation’s top-tier club competition. 

Speaking through a chief architect of its recent run of successes, the club believes the ground-breaking achievement has opened up a world of possibilities for not only players and staff, but the rustic community it serves. 

“The energy is palpable, the players are buzzing, and it is clear that they are hungry for this opportunity. They are talking about showcasing their skills, talent, making a statement and getting noticed. It’s a career defining moment for some and they are ready to put in the work,” said head coach Theodore “Tappa” Whitmore in an interview with Concacaf.com.

Placing Mount Pleasant ‘on the map’

Mount Pleasant FA will be one of five clubs to make its debut in the 2026 Concacaf Champions Cup. The Jamaican club earned its berth by winning the 2025 Concacaf Caribbean Cup.

“It (playing in the Champions Cup) puts Mount Pleasant Football Academy on the map where we will be able to showcase Jamaica’s talent and bring pride to the community,” said Whitmore.

By being crowned Concacaf Caribbean Cup champions, Mount Pleasant Football Academy earned a bye to the Round of 16 of the Champions Cup.

The Jamaican club will face either former MLS champions LA Galaxy or Panama’s Sporting San Miguelito when it opens its campaign in March. Galaxy and San Miguelito will meet in a two-legged Round One tie in February.

Mount Pleasant is scheduled to visit the winner of the Galaxy-San Miguelito series on March 11 in the first leg. The series will close on March 19 at Independence Park in Kingston.

“When you speak about the fans, I think they are a huge asset, and this is something that we can't overlook,” Whitmore expressed. “The motivation for the players comes from the fans as they always support us through thick and thin. It doesn't really matter what tournaments or what games Mount Pleasant plays in, they are always there. 

“I don’t think we have another set of loyal fans in the country like Mount Pleasant fans, they are always going to want success for Mount Pleasant. So our success in qualifying for the Champions Cup is theirs as much as ours, and they are already talking about our first game and they will be asking a lot from us,” Whitmore added. 

If Mount Pleasant wins its Round of 16 matchup, the quarterfinals follow in April. If the club continues to advance, the semi-finals are scheduled across April and May, and the championship match is set for a one-legged affair on Saturday, May 30.

A success for the “entire Caribbean”

Whitmore, a goal-scoring hero for the Reggae Boyz at France ‘98, declared that the Champions Cup qualification “is a big deal and a huge achievement”, and deemed it a success for the “entire Caribbean”. 

“Mount Pleasant qualifying for the tournament would mean exposure for our players, potential growth and development for the team, bragging rights in the region and the possibility of attracting bigger sponsors and partnerships,” he asserted. 

Mount Pleasant Football Academy, nestled in the north coast community of St. Ann Parish, separates itself as it combines elite football training with academics for youth as a foundational plank.

The ownership of Mount Pleasant Football Academy has invested heavily in the broad-based model of youth and professional systems, which football watchers believe has been the secret to the success of the club platform.

“When you speak of the ownership and management, I think they are on cloud nine given the recent club successes — Concacaf Champions Cup, Concacaf Caribbean Cup title, Jamaica Premier League,” Whitmore told Concacaf.com

“They (club owners) are ecstatic because success for them would mean validation of their investment in the team. Part of that success, of course, would be the growth and recognition for the club, potential increase in revenue and sponsorship and a strong foundation for future success,” Whitmore added.

Another Jamaican club, Cavalier FC, follows a similar model which has translated into recent domestic and regional successes – most recently by winning the 2024 Concacaf Caribbean Cup, which led to one of the most memorable night’s in Jamaican football as the club hosted Inter Miami CF, with legendary players like Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez, Sergio Busquets, and Jordi Alba, in the Round of 16 of the 2025 Concacaf Champions Cup.

Developing the next generation of Jamaican greats

Whitmore, who has the distinction of having had multiple stints as the head coach of the Jamaica men’s national team, underscored that Mount Pleasant Football Academy’s goal-oriented philosophy is a crucial driver in the club’s achievements. 

“Mount Pleasant goals can be broken down into short-term, medium-term and long-term objectives. Here are some of the possibilities. Short-term goals would be winning the Jamaica Premier league, performing well in the Caribbean Cup Championship and developing young players. 

“Our medium-term goals include qualifying for the Concacaf Champions Cup, and to win other regional tournaments and strengthen our squad with local talent. Our long-term goals include becoming a dominant force in Jamaican football, producing players for international teams, and to establish ourselves as a top Caribbean club. These goals will align with Mount Pleasant’s vision of growing the club and achieving success on the regional stage,” Whitmore reasoned.

The former Tranmere Rovers and Livingston F.C. midfielder shared that his team is “looking strong” as it prepares for the Round of 16 series.  

“We are gearing up for the Concacaf Champions Cup, and we are managing our players carefully to avoid burnout, so we are in a good space, plus we have a good team in terms of our physical training and our technical leadership, so I guess we are in the right place,” Whitmore explained. 

At home, Mount Pleasant is lingering in fourth place in the Jamaica Premier League, but Whitmore is unbothered as he believes the metrics favour his side which seeks its first championship since the 2022/23 season.

“We are sitting fourth place with 25 points from 13 games at the moment, trailing leaders Montego Bay United by 11 points with fewer games played, so we are in a good position to close the gap and to cut the deficit. 

“We will likely now focus on consistency, keep the winning streak alive and minimize losses. We want to keep our strong performance and capitalize on home games and take all points on the road.

“In terms of tactical adjustments, we might tweak our strategy to exploit opponents’ weaknesses. Given the current form, it's more of an opportunity than a concern, as we are averaging 1.85 points per game, indicating a strong run,” Whitmore concluded.