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Wellington proud of schoolboy football standard - ISSA president ‘very pleased’ with players’ transition to Reggae Boyz team
October 29, 2025
President of the Inter-Secondary Schools Sports Association (ISSA), Keith Wellington, expressed delight at the performance of local-based players who featured for the Reggae Boyz in their recent 4-0 victory over Bermuda in the Concacaf final-round World Cup Qualifier (WCQ) at the National Stadium.
Wellington believes the schoolboy competition is playing a role in the sport's development in the country, given the outstanding play of home-grown players in the national team.
Shamar Nicholson, Dujuan Richards, Shamar Nicholson, Kaheim Dixon, Renaldo Cephas and Richard King were local-based players who stood out in the October 14 WCQ.
Dante Leverock 24th (OG), Bobby De Cordova-Reid (26th), Shamar Nicholson (35th), and Dujuan Richards (76th) scored.
LOCALLY-DEVELOPED PLAYERS
Nicholson's strike against Bermuda was his 20th in 60 appearances for Jamaica, making him the top scorer among the country's current active players. The 28-year-old represented Trench Town High School in the Manning Cup.
Winger Renaldo Cephas, 25 years, who provided two assists from crosses after blistering runs down the left flank, played in the Manning Cup for Charlie Smith High School, a stone's throw from the location of the now defunct Trench Town High. It has now been transformed into a training centre.
Richards, 19 years, who was a standout and leading goalscorer while leading Kingston College to both the Manning Cup and Olivier Shield titles, dominated the proceedings with a goal and some telling dribbles, providing much excitement off the bench for spectators in the crucial win.
Though he did not score, 21-year-old Kaheim Dixon, who like Nicholson was getting his first start in the WCQ group playoffs, did exceptionally and went close to scoring on a number of occasions. He was a top player and leading goalscorer for Clarendon College in the ISSA daCosta Cup.
And King, 23 years, who also represented Clarendon College in the daCosta Cup, has locked in a starting position following excellent displays at central defence.
"We were very pleased when we looked at the national team and saw the performances of the local-based players, who were actually standout players in our competitions not so long ago," Wellington said.
He noted that this is a mark of the standard of the competition, which has been delayed by Hurricane Melissa, which lingered off the country's shores before making landfall yesterday.
As he looks forward to a restart of both the Manning Cup and daCosta Cup, Wellington says he is confident that the standard of play will continue to rise in the second round of matches.
"I personally haven't seen that many games, but we know that usually the real quality of the competition comes out in the second round," said Wellington. "So I think over the next couple of weeks we will see what level we are really at."
DISCIPLINE
The ISSA boss further praised the improved discipline shown by teams this season, emphasising that proper conduct on and off the field contributes greatly to the overall quality of the tournaments.
"I am happy with the noticeable improvement, and I am particularly pleased that the message seems to have gone through to the youngsters that we expect certain standards of behaviour," said Wellington.
"We are only hoping that the improvement will continue because at the end of the day, we believe that once there is discipline, then the quality of the football will improve."
Discipline and development, he reasoned, continue to attract corporate support, as many businesses recognise their role in nation-building through sports.
"Once we can continue to show that we are helping with the proper socialisation of our student-athletes, then corporate Jamaica is always willing to come on board and support us," said Wellington.
"Many of our corporate businesses understand their social responsibility to the country."
Kingston College are defending Manning Cup champions, while Garvey Maceo High are defending daCosta Cup champions.
ISSA informed that it would serve 48 hours' notice for the restart of both competitions.
