As Mount Pleasant Academy prepares for the Jamaica Premier League (JPL) final on Friday, Sporting Director Paul Christie has made it clear his team will not be taking defending champions Cavalier lightly.

Despite entering the final as favourites, Christie is adamant that the label means little for them when it comes to football at the highest level.

“Cavalier has proven to be a worthy opponent,” Christie said. “They are Caribbean champions and they are defending Premier League champions, so you can’t sleep on them. If you take them lightly, then you take them lightly to your own detriment.”

This will mark the third consecutive meeting between the teams in the JPL final. Mount Pleasant took the honours in the 2022-23 season, but it was Cavalier who had the last laugh in 2023-24.

“There is nothing to separate us from Cavalier,” Christie said. “During the season, we won one against them, they won one against us, and the other game ended in a draw. So it is dead even going into this final.”

Mount Pleasant advanced with a 2-1 aggregate win over Montego Bay United after both teams played out a 1-1 draw in their second leg semi-final encounter on Sunday at Sabina Park. Mount Pleasant won the first leg 1-0 at the Montego Bay Sports Complex in St James.

Cavalier, led by Sporting Director Rudolph Speid, also recoded a 2-1 aggregate win against Arnett Gardens. Cavalier defeated Arnett 1-0 in the second match on Sundaay.

However, despite the pundits favouring Mount Pleasant, Christie says their past achievements count for little once the final starts.

“Favoritism doesn’t win you titles,” he said. “This is why we play the game, and we play for titles. We have no excuse at this point. We are now in the final. There is no secret between us and Cavalier. They know what we will offer and we know what Cavalier will offer. So we have to go out there and execute.”

Mount Pleasant is led by Technical Director Theodore Whitmore and assistant Davion Ferguson. Christie says everyone is aware of the stakes ahead.

He says he is full of respect for Cavalier’s resilience and pedigree, particularly their ability to rise to the occasion during the business end of the season.

“One thing I know is not to disrespect the heart of a champion,” Christie said. “Cavalier have shown one thing and one thing only — going into the play-offs, they seemed out of form and not doing well. However, when it mattered most, they found a way. So yes, they are worthy opponents, that I can tell you.”