SUE-LAE McCalla’s half a decade at Mount Pleasant Football Academy may reach its pay-off on Sunday evening if he can guide them to their first-ever national title.

The St Ann-based team faces 2021 champions Cavalier in this season’s Jamaica Premier League final at Sabina Park at 7:00 pm.

McCalla describes getting there as a great achievement, not only for himself but also for the club as it is the first final in its history.

“For any player playing in any league, getting to the ultimate game is the most important thing and it’s a great feeling to be here,” he told the Jamaica Observer. “Going into the final, I just told my teammates to keep a cool head as the job is not yet finished. We have to double our efforts, and the most difficult game is yet to come.”

Mount Pleasant has come close to the final before but stumbled at the semi-final hurdle on two occasions, finishing fourth in 2019 and 2021. But McCalla trusts Head Coach Theodore “Tappa” Whitmore to take them all the way this season.

“Tappa is a great coach; and we had good coaches that came here before but Tappa raps with the players and gets along with the players very well,” he said. “That is the most important thing — to have a coach who is there for his players.

“The thing about coaching is that it’s the principle on how to prepare the team, and his methods are similar to previous coaches but now is the time for us to do well.”

McCalla, like his teammates, says that winning this title would be for the fans, whom he describes as loyal in their support, following the team wherever they play across the island.

“The expectation is very high and everyone wants us to win,” he said. “Everyone wants the championship to come to St Ann for the first time in history — and the players are very motivated.”

McCalla says his opponents will be solid not only in defence but also in attack, so he expects a good game.

“We expect a good game and we expect a running game from them, and we have to train accordingly to prepare for what is to come,” he said.

In spite of his mild-mannered demeanour during the interview, McCalla is known as one of the more physically imposing midfielders in the league. When asked if this reputation he developed is a fair one, he said that’s just his game.

“Any player coming up against me can expect that type of game from me,” he said with a laugh. “They have to just prepare and be ready. Once it’s game time it’s all business — and I transform at that time.”

McCalla, a family man, says they are his prime source of inspiration. McCalla also wants to be a member of a title-winning team like his brother Kambuji when Portmore won the championship in 2018.

“My biggest motivation is my kids, my mother, and my father,” he said. “But also, it’s for the fanbase that supports this team.”

— Rachid Parchment