MBU sign MOU with Cornwall, Irwin

Montego Bay United Football Club (MBU) has signed two memorandums of understanding with Cornwall College and Irwin High School, two of western Jamaica’s leading football schools.

The five-year agreements link both schools’ sports programmes to the MBU Football Academy and senior team, giving student-athletes a clear route from the school pitch to the Jamaica Premier League.

The partnerships were formalised at a signing ceremony held yesterday at the offices of itel, 38 Coconut Drive, Freeport, Montego Bay, and attended by MBU directors, school principals, coaching staff and student-athletes.

WHAT THE PARTNERSHIP COVERS

The two agreements share the same framework. Each runs for an initial five years, renewing annually after that.

Key provisions:

• Club pathway from U12 to U18: Eligible students from both schools will be registered and fielded in MBU’s U12, U13, U15, U16 and U18 squads, in line with Jamaica Football Federation, Inter-Secondary Schools Sports Association Concacaf and and Professional Football Jamaica Limited (PFJL) rules.

• Ten months of competitive football a year: a joint match and training calendar combining ISSA schoolboy competitions, PFJL age-group fixtures, tournaments and regional events.

• Professional coaching support: MBU will make coaches, analysts, sports scientists and medical staff available to each school’s football programme, along with video analysis, physiotherapy and performance-data tools.

• Facility access: free use of MBU training and match-day facilities for scheduled training, official inter-school matches and MBU youth activities, with below-market rates for additional use.

• Beyond football: collaboration in track and field, racquet sports, aquatics, and gym and conditioning, including access to The Hive at the Montego Bay Sports Complex.

• Joint, ethical recruitment: the club and schools will work together to attract talented young footballers from across the region who want both academic excellence and elite sport.

STUDENT WELFARE COMES FIRST

The MOUs state that school schedules take precedence during the academic day and that only students in good academic standing will take part. MBU will uphold any disciplinary measures imposed by the schools, including suspension of playing time. Both agreements commit the parties to child-protection and safeguarding standards, parental consent for all minors, and medical support for players.

The agreements also make clear that students remain free to accept local or international scholarships.

A joint liaison committee, with representatives from MBU and each school, will meet every school term to oversee the partnership.

“Western Jamaica has always produced talent. What it has lacked is a structured pathway that keeps young players competing all year and connects the school pitch to the professional game,” said Yoni Epstein, chairman of Montego Bay United FC. “Cornwall College and Irwin High are two of the great sporting institutions of this region. Through these partnerships, their student-athletes get professional coaching, proper facilities and a clear route into MBU, while their education stays the priority.”

In his remarks, Michael Ellis, principal of Cornwall College said, “Cornwall College has a long and proud sporting tradition, and this partnership with Montego Bay United builds on it. Our students will now train under professional coaches, compete for 10 months of the year and see a clear path to the professional game, while their studies remain at the centre of everything we do. We look forward to seeing Cornwallites in MBU colours in the years ahead.”

Irwin High’s principal, Victor Newsome, said his school believed in developing the whole student.

“This agreement gives our student-athletes access to professional coaching, sports science and facilities, in football and beyond, that would otherwise be out of reach. Just as important, it puts their education and welfare first. We are proud to partner with Montego Bay United,” said Newsome.