Mount Pleasant Football Academy will play in the semi-finals of the Red Stripe Premier League (RSPL) in this their inaugural season in Jamaica’s top flight football competition.

The team was expertly assembled by one of the nation’s top coaches Donovan Duckie and, despite a few scares throughout the season, navigated their way into play-off football after finishing third at the end of the regular season.

In defeating UWI in the two-leg quarter-finals they have made their way to the semi-finals of the RSPL, where they will come up against defending champions Portmore United, also in a two-legged affair, for a chance to make the final.

Their inspirational captain and no-nonsense centre half Ladale Richie says that the experience within the squad has been a key factor in their progress so far this season.

“The name Mount Pleasant is a new team but we are definitely no new players to the league. I think we have a lot of experience in the team and that is why we have done so well, so far, in the season.”

Mount Pleasant boast the meanest defence in the league, a fact not lost on anyone who has followed the league this term. Richie says that his strikers have been instrumental in producing a record they are quite proud of.

“We are a quality team overall, but with our defence it’s not only one player defends; every player defends in our team. I have to give our attackers credit also for their defending because defence wins championships, not only the attacking part of the game.”

He is looking forward to getting all things perfect in game one of the semi-finals at National Stadium.

“I think once we get our attacking part of the game right, we score a few goals, I think we will definitely give a good showing on Monday night.”

The Reggae Boy, who says he learned a lot on the recent tour despite Jamaica losing both games, is looking forward to taking the advantage in the tie after the first minutes.

“It’s two games. If we get a win it would be great for us if they (the strikers) put the next team (Portmore United) under more pressure coming up against us in the next leg, so I think that would give us the advantage in the game.”

Richie paid respect to his opponents and knows that game one may just hold the key to success to either team.

“I think they are a quality team and we are a quality team also. It’s not the first time we are playing Portmore and I think the three games were three good games, so I think any team that does the right thing on the pitch on Monday night, I think they are the ones that are going to come out victorious.”

He promised the fans that Mount Pleasant will be pleasing to the eyes in game one of the Monday night double-header, which will see Cavalier FC and Waterhouse FC play in the feature encounter starting at 8:30 pm.

“In training my team looks very sharp and I think my guys are ready. They are very focused and we are ready to put on a good showing come Monday night.”