Reggae Boyz central defender Westley Morgan was on Sunday recognised for his role in captaining Leicester City to the coveted English Premier League title last season during a luncheon hosted by Prime Minister Andrew Holness and Sport Minister Olivia Grange at Jamaica Pegasus.

The 32-year-old, who has captained Jamaica at the international level, was also awarded the Gold Medal of Service of the City of Kingston.

Wes Morgan, born in Nottingham, England, is the first black man to captain an English team to the Premier League title. He remarkably played every minute of Leicester’s 38 league games.

Holness said Morgan, who was eligible to play for Jamaica through grandparents from both his parent’s side of the family, has shown the penchant for brilliance, the determination, and the winning qualities typical of many Jamaicans.

“We embrace you and we celebrate with you your success,” said the prime minister, while he encouraged the player to give back to young people from his boyhood neighbourhood in England as well as his grandparents’ roots in Clarendon.

Grange, also the minister in charge of culture, gender and entertainment, hailed Morgan’s “impossible” achievement with Leicester City, who were staggering 5000-1 outsiders to win the league at the start of the 2015-16 campaign.

“Earlier this year, something remarkable happened. It was supposed to be impossible, yet it happened anyway. At the centre of this impossible victory was one Wes Morgan of Jamaican roots,” she said.

Morgan, who was also treated to a performance by Popcaan, his favourite dancehall entertainer, was humble in accepting the plaudits.

“It’s fantastic to be recognised by the prime minister, the Jamaica Football Federation and everyone in this room for what I’ve achieved for Leicester City. I hope what I’ve achieved can inspire young people to work hard and try to achieve their dreams… thank you very much guys,” he said.

JFF President Captain Horace Burrell, back in the spotlight after laying low with illness since April, was pleased to see the gesture from the Government and used the opportunity to ask for continued financial support, especially after their elimination from 2018 World Cup qualifying.

“Thank you, Mr Prime Minister for having initiated this function because in these times when things are not going very well, people in authority would want to walk away. This is indeed a good sign because when the chips are down is the time you need the support.

“Thanks to Minister [Grange] because having been eliminated funds are going to be really hard to come by. This is the reality,” said the local football boss.

In response, Grange insisted the Government will not end its support. She said the monthly subvention of $3.5 million provided through the Sports Development Foundation to help run JFF’s development programmes will continue.

She added that “if the pot and the kitty gets bigger” an increase would be considered.

— Sanjay Myers