Mount Pleasant trio set for Belgian transfer - Players to join recently acquired club RAEC Mons

National players Shaquan Davis and Sue-Lae McCalla are among three Mount Pleasant Football Academy players earmarked for transfers to RAEC Mons, the Belgian third-tier club recently acquired by the St Ann outfit.

Mount Pleasant's sporting director, Paul Christie, revealed that the 24-year-old Davis, who has three international caps, along with the club's captain McCalla and winger Devonte Campbell have been selected by a technical panel, comprising both RAEC Mons and Mount Pleasant personnel.

Christie pointed out that though the acquisition of the European club is intended as a gateway to get their players into Europe, he noted that with their relationship, players could also move in the opposite direction.

"Our captain Sue-Lae McCalla will be a part of that project at Renaissance Mons, and Devonte Campbell. And it is highly likely that our goalkeeper and national goalkeeper, Shaquan Davis, will also fill a void over there," he disclosed.

"At Mount Pleasant Football Academy we do not deal with specifics. If you are good enough, the opportunity will be presented to you.

"As of right now, it is not a number that we are sending, but based on the need in Belgium and the capacity for us at Mount Pleasant to deliver on that need, that is what we will do," Christie explained.

"It is not a number. It's not that we are sending over five or 10. That is not how it works. How it works is that the technical team from Belgium is aligned with the technical team of Mount Pleasant and it is a group effort. We have an advanced scouting process and a systematic approach, monitored by Global Institute of Sports.

"We try to find fits where player profiles are concerned, and then we try to make that transition. Whether it is players from Jamaica going to Belgium or players from Belgium coming to Jamaica, it is all about the need and how we fit the need."

Nevertheless, he said everything has been carefully considered by the technical team.

"The Caribbean is trying to catch up in what's happening in the world, and we are committed to this task. We will not rest until progress is made, not only at Mount Pleasant but in the region, so that when it comes on to the Gold Cup, Concacaf Champions Cup, the Caribbean will be represented with distinction," he continued.

He also believes having European bred players in the Mount Pleasant ranks will elevate the professionalism and make the team more competitive in Concacaf competitions.

"There are countries ahead of us leaps and bounds and it is a process to get up to where they are. When Caribbean teams go to Concacaf it is assumed they will just show up. We want the Americans and Mexicans to look at us as competitors and not just making up numbers," Christie said.

"Having players from Renaissance Mons will help to bridge the gap. There might be communication barriers but that will be sorted out and everything will take care of itself," he stated.

livingston.scott@gleanerjm.