Coach of Mount Pleasant Football Academy and national football icon Theodore Whitmore was the recipient of the Kingston and St Andrew Business House Football Association’s Abe Alexander award for excellence for 2025 at the competition’s awards presentation at the National Housing Trust on Thursday.
Whitmore, a former national midfielder, was a key member of the Reggae Boyz’ World Cup qualification in 1998. He also scored both goals in Jamaica’s lone victory at the tournament, a 2-1 win over Japan.
The silky playmaker has also distinguished himself as a coach, leading the Reggae Boyz to the Gold Cup final in 2017 and the semi-finals two years later.
He also guided Mount Pleasant to their first national title in 2022-23 and only this week took the team to the regional glory, with the Concacaf Caribbean Cup title.
Whitmore told the gathering that he was truly honoured to be receiving such a prestigious award and that it feels good to be recognised for hard work and commitment.
“I am really grateful tonight and I want to thank the organisers. It is always a good feeling to be honoured by anyone and I want to say a big thank you to the Kingston and St Andrew Business House Football Association for this award. Time and time again we have seen that it’s after people have passed that they are recognised,” Whitmore said.
He added that he remains highly motivated and will continue to strive for excellence.
“I am always motivated no matter what they throw at us. It has always built my courage and I am always going to give 110 per cent,” he stated.
For the first time in the history of business house football, prize money was presented to winning teams. The Division One and Two winners received $150,000 each and the runners-up $75,000. The knockout champions received $50,000.
Welcome incentive
KSAFA president Wayne Shaw said it has been a welcome incentive for the team and that the intention is to increase it over the next two years
“Thanks to Xpress Sports and their sponsorship. This is the first time business house football has given out prize monies to the winners of each division and the knockout. Next year we will increase it and for the third year as well.
“We have always struggled with sponsorship cash wise. But this $8.4 million from Xpress Sports has really lifted us. It covered all our expenses and we could also offer the teams some prize money,” Shaw said.
“All of the leading scorers also got gift certificates from the sponsor valued at $15,000. So this is something that is very good.”
He is also pleased to see participation up again over the past three years, after a drop shortly after the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Business House is on its way back up. Three years ago we had only 14 teams. Last year we had 18 and this year we had 21. And I am expecting 30 teams for the next season,” he added.
Meanwhile, Division One champions RJRGLEANER dominated the awards, walking away with the five-a-side rally trophy, the Division One MVP award, which went to Ezran Simpson, the topscorer award for the knockout went to Javane Bryan (four goals) and the winning coach award to Fabian Swaby. Keanu Barrett was named final MVP, for his goal and assist in the championship match.
Knockout champions and Raymond Quallo trophy winners McKay Security also took home the winning coach award which went to Aurane Phoenix while Howard Morris was Knockout final MVP.
Division Two winners Scotiabank also grabbed numerous awards, with Damion Gordon taking the winning coach award, Cary Hamilton the MVP, Stephen Barnett (16 goals), the topscorer, and manager of the season to Diana Polack.
Other awardees included Price Mart who received the Fair Play Trophy. NHT’s Donovan Segree (eight goals) was the topscorer in Division Two while National Commercial Bank (NCB) were the Best Prepared Team.
