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Mount Pleasant FA ‘ready’ to topple O&M - St Ann team in Concacaf Caribbean Cup first-leg final battle
November 25, 2025
Mount Peasant Football Academy are well aware of how much Universidad O&M have improved since the teams met in in the group stage of the Concacaf Caribbean Cup in September.
The Jamaica Premier League runners-up meet the Dominican Republic team in the first leg of the Concacaf Caribbean Cup final this evening at the Estadio Cibao FC in Santiago de los Caballeros, Dominican Republic at 6 p.m.
Despite beating the said opponent 2-0 in the preliminary stages, Mount Pleasant's assistant coach Davian Ferguson noted that they are fully aware of the progress their opponents have made, and anticipated a much tougher match.
"We have a critical first leg of the Caribbean Cup final against Universidad O&M, and (they're a) very difficult team. They have improved a lot since we last saw them, and personally I think they are one of the best teams in the competition, as ourselves. So it won't be an easy task. But we are ready, we are prepared," he said.
With no local football played since October 20, due to the devastating passage of Hurricane Melissa, Mount Pleasant have had to keep themselves sharp through training and practice matches.
NO EXCUSE
However, Ferguson insists they will not use inactivity as an excuse for not completing the mission.
"Ideally we would like to have that competitive edge. We are trying to recreate that with some practice games. But now is not the time for us to find reasons as to why we shouldn't complete the mission. Our job is firmly focused on completing the mission at hand," he said.
"Without finding excuses, everything is firmly fixed behind this moment. It won't be easy. We are playing against a team that has quality. They did exceptionally well against a tough team in the semi-finals, so we are ready and prepared as possible.
"It's a very huge opportunity," Ferguson added. "Very historic for the club. But we want to really finish the job. We have a lot of respect for the team. They have quality, they are very difficult to play against, so we have to be at our best; reduce the margins as much as possible and try to execute."
Mount Pleasant topped their group with a perfect record or four wins from four matches, scoring seven goals scored with none conceded.
They stunned Defence Force 5-1 away in Trinidad to virtually seal their place in the decider. The only blot on their record this season came in the second semi-final, which they lost 1-0.
ENOUGH MOTIVATION
However, the passage of Hurricane Melissa has disrupted normal life in the country, and Ferguson said they have more than enough motivation going into the tie.
"Our mission is more than just Mount Pleasant. We want to win for Mount Pleasant. We want to win for St Ann. We want to win for the ownership and the leadership of the organisation.
"But most importantly we want to win for Jamaica, because based on what has been happening in the country, I think this will go a far way in helping us as a nation to really have something to smile about," he stated.
Universidad O&M finished second in the same group behind Mount Pleasant, six points less than than their opponents.
However, they went into the semi-finals and stunned country rivals and favourites FC Ciboa - who are 14 points higher in the Dominican Republic's Premier League - 2-1 on aggregate, after drawing the first leg 1-1 and winning the second leg 1-0.
