Jamaica’s football fraternity was slumped into mourning following the untimely passing of one of the country’s promising talent Tarania “Plum Plum” Clarke on Thursday.

Clarke, who was also captain and ace defender of the Excelsior High School and Waterhouse FC’s girls’ teams, was killed during a dispute with another female in Half-Way Tree, St Andrew.

Reports from the Half-Way-Tree police are that about 8:50 pm, both women had a dispute over a cellular phone. During the altercation, a knife was reportedly used to stab Clarke. She was taken to the hospital where she was pronounced dead.

The other female has been taken in custody by the Police.

Reggae Girlz Head coach Hue Menzies and Clarke’s teammates, as well as the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF), were among those that have expressed profound sadness at the news.

Clarke, who is one of the few players to represent Jamaica at all levels – Under-15, Under-17, Under-20 and the senior Reggae Girlz team – boasted immense potential that could have seen her achieve a successful professional football career at the highest level.

The 20-year-old utility player, who promised much, has been robbed of that opportunity, as she was preparing to attend university in the United States in January, which would have propelled her football ambitions further.

Clarke was a member of Reggae Girlz team to the Pan-American Games in Lima, Peru, in July. She also featured and scored two goals for the team that comfortably progressed from the first round of the Concacaf Women’s Caribbean Olympic Qualifiers in Jamaica recently.

She was also a member of the team that participated in the historic friendly contest against Nottingham Forest female team in England.

Menzies said the entire team is still trying to come to grips with the news of Clarke’s demise.

“Obviously it is a sad day for our communities and Jamaica on a whole, as she was on the path of being the future of our programme, she was probably the best player on the island and we had her all squared away to move to school in the US in January and onto another phase of her life.

“So it is very unfortunate and condolence goes out to the family. Our hearts are hurting right now,” Menzies told the Jamaica Observer yesterday.

“We have been texting and calling each other, as we grieve in our own way because it is still a little bit of a shock right now and this is just something that will take some time to get over. But going forward we will represent our country with her in our hearts and minds and just try to make an impact on other young girls lives,” he added.

Waterhouse Head Coach Xavier Gilbert, who has been overseeing Clarke’s career leading up to her transition into the senior Reggae Girlz team, is taking her death very hard.

“It is a tough loss, she is someone I have been so close to for the past nine to 10 years, and she is a wonderful person, a wonderful individual and a great leader. So it’s tough, especially knowing she’s coming from very humble beginnings and what she achieved up to this point.

“It’s difficult for me and the rest of her teammates at the school, club and national level and difficult for the family as well. Words cannot express how sad I personally am, she was supposed to start Daytona in January so to see her not getting that opportunity, is difficult because she wanted to change her mother and family situation,” Gilbert shared.

Reggae Girlz defender Sashana Campbell, who plies her trade in Israel, remembered Clarke as an easy-going individual.

“I still can’t believe it. I saw and heard everything, but I am still in denial. Her life just can’t go that easy. So I just don’t believe. She was humble, easy going and respectful,” Campbell told the Observer.

Earlier, the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) in a statement said: “The JFF family expresses condolences to the Waterhouse FC, her family, her friends and her colleagues at the senior team. The JFF will speak more on this in the coming days.”