Daquan Jamieson’s dream of representing Kingston College (KC) in the ISSA Manning Cup has been dealt a major blow after he was ruled ineligible to play this season, leaving the young goalkeeper devastated and uncertain about his immediate football future.

Jamieson moved from Maggotty High — which competes in the daCosta Cup — to Hydel High and, following the closure of that school, relocated to KC.

ISSA rules stipulate that an athlete cannot represent three schools in its competitions. However, Jamieson’s case involves extenuating circumstances, as Hydel’s closure and subsequent merger with Cumberland ultimately resulted in the school not entering this year’s competition.

For Jamieson, however, the disappointment runs much deeper than missing another season of schoolboy football.

JAMIESON…I can say it was heart-shattering for me. I felt very demotivated, I’m still kind of in shock, to be honest

He sees the Manning Cup as a potential springboard to a professional career and an opportunity to continue the football legacy of his older brother, Shamar Jamieson,who earned a college scholarship through the sport.

“I can say it was heart-shattering for me. I felt very demotivated, I’m still kind of in shock, to be honest,” Jamieson said of the decision.

“To me, it’s not just Manning Cup. It’s very deeper than that, I would say,” he explained.

Jamieson’s journey has been complicated by school transfers and circumstances beyond his control. He attended Maggotty High from Grade Seven to Grade Nine before leaving in October 2022 to join Hydel, with the ambition of playing Manning Cup football.

He said he had to sit out his first season and believed he also missed the following year because of transfer regulations and the quota system, which limits the number of transfer students eligible to play in a season.

He eventually got his opportunity, featuring in the season when Hydel reached the semi-finals before losing to Jamaica College (JC).

However, Jamieson said he was again unable to play the following season because of eligibility rules.

His latest setback came after he learned that Hydel would be closing down operations. He and other players initially believed the school’s football programme would continue, allowing them to remain together and compete in the Manning Cup.

But when it became clear that the school would not field a team, the players had to seek opportunities elsewhere.

Jamieson said he received offers from several schools competing in both the Manning Cup and daCosta Cup competitions but ultimately chose KC.

He explained that the move made sense because several of his former teammates were also heading to North Street, while an assistant coach was familiar with the group, having coached the players at the under-15 level.

The prospect of joining KC had raised his hopes of finally making an impact in the competition. Instead, the eligibility ruling has left him facing the possibility of waiting another year.

“I was trying to prepare for it not to go in my favour, because I knew it was a possibility. But when I got the news that I wasn’t going to be able to play, I guess I can say it was heart-shattering for me,” said Jamieson.

The emotional impact was immediate. Jamieson said he struggled to sleep and lost his appetite after receiving the news, prompting concern from his parents.

“I didn’t eat for about two days after I got the news, but mommy and daddy were concerned, so I had to eat something,” he said, adding that he was beginning to feel better but remained disappointed.

The stakes are personal.

His older brother, Shamar, known in football circles as Juki, made a strong impression in the Manning Cup before earning a scholarship to play college football. An injury eventually brought his playing career to an end.

Watching his brother’s journey helped shape Jamieson’s own ambitions.

“I really looked at that, and I was like, I have to take up the baton and carry on,” he said.

The goalkeeper is determined not to let the setback extinguish his ambitions. He wants to improve his game, help his family and turn his love for football into a career.

As a youngster, he imagined himself lifting the Manning Cup trophy, winning individual awards and building

a successful future through the sport. The current situation, he admitted, was not the story he expected to tell.

“I hope that I could play and get that highlight that I wanted, better myself, better my family, and just go on and turn this sport that I love into a career,” Jamieson said.