DESPITE Mount Pleasant Football Academy’s losing start to their 2026 Concacaf Caribbean Cup title defence, Head Coach Theodore Whitmore says he’s confident in his team’s ability to turn things around in the coming weeks.

The reigning champions lost their opening Group B encounter 2-1 to Dominican Republic’s Cibao FC at the National Stadium in Kingston on Tuesday.

The St Ann-based club went into the half time break a goal down after Diego Ledesma netted in the 43rd minute.

However, Reggae Boyz winger Nickalia Fuller brought the contest back to life with a strike just outside the box in the 69th minute to score his first goal for the club since joining from Tivoli Gardens FC last month.

Despite the chances created, Mount Pleasant were unable to find a winner while Cibao stole all three points when Mariano Nichele blasted home from close range.

It’s the first group stage defeat for Mount Pleasant since 2024 after winning all four games on their way to the title last year.

Whitmore believes the result was harsh given the team’s effort throughout the contest.

“[Based on] the performance of the players tonight, I think we deserved something out of the game,” he said. “I think we dominated possession, in the final third, we came up short this afternoon. I think we created numerous first-round opportunities, should have gotten something out of the game but such is the nature of the game. The game’s about result and we failed to put the ball in the back of the net hence the result.”

Although it’s only the opening game for Mount Pleasant, they will need to pick up points in their next game on September 2 away to another Dominican Republic club, Salcedo FC, to boost their chances of advancing to the semi-finals.

Salcedo, who face Cavalier today at the National Stadium at 7:00 pm, are currently second on three points after beating Portmore United 2-1 in Trinidad earlier this month. Cibao top the group with four points with only the top two advancing to the last four.

“This is now to show really what a champion is made of. If we intend to defend the title, then we have to put this one behind us and look forward to the next one,” Whitmore said.

“We have a couple of days to prepare for them (club name) and they are the team that won their first game so we must get three points.”