CATHERINE HALL, St James — Matthew Thorpe has played with extra motivation in this season’s ISSA/Wata daCosta Cup, as he tries to honour his father’s memory.

On September 9, a day after the official kick-off to the season and a day before Cornwall College were to open their account with a game at home against Irwin High, the elder Thorpe – Clifton – was killed. And though Matthew missed that game, he played in the next 16 games for Cornwall College.

Clifton was buried on Sunday, and the day before, after Cornwall College beat Camperdown High to qualify for the semi-finals of the ISSA Champions Cup after earlier advancing to the semi-finals of the daCosta Cup, Matthew told the Jamaica Observer he was playing not just for himself and his team, but for his father.

“He always told me that I must always push for whatever I want, so I am just doing this for him,” said Matthew, who has scored six times for Cornwall College this season while playing defensive, midfield and attacking roles.

Among the six goals was the equaliser in regulation time in the first round of the Champions Cup against Wolmer’s Boys’. He dedicated that goal to his father.

Matthew admitted that it has not been easy for him since the death of his father.

“At times I get a bit emotional and at first it was really hard, but my coaches, and especially my teammates, have really been here for me and they helped me to cope with everything,” he said.

The love of the game, he said, has been one of the main driving forces for him.

“I keep playing because I love the sport and he loved it as well. It was he who first introduced me to the sport,” Matthew ended.