Fletcher mum, but grateful over overseas chance

With negotiations at a crucial point, Montego Bay United ace Jourdain Fletcher is not giving away his hand regarding a move overseas, but he is lauding the value of sticking to your goals with the likelihood of a second chance on the horizon.

The striker has had a resurgence this season with MoBay, scoring 13 goals to lead all scorers, culminating with a recall to the Reggae Boyz squad.

Fletcher was a starter in the team that played against Grenada in a friendly the Reggae Boyz won 1-0 last month.

“Everyone deserves a second chance. I am very proud of myself. Words can’t express how I am feeling right now,” said Fletcher, who is expected to ply his trade with an overseas club for the fifth time in his career.

According to Fletcher, the impending move is a sign that the work he has done to reinvent himself is paying off.

“There was a time in my life that I was very down. I made a lot of mistakes when I was younger. All I wanted to do was enjoy life and when older people telling you that you are wrong, you might not see it. I learned from that, and see where I am at now, improving and doing better,” said Fletcher.

While emboldened by the confidence of youth, Fletcher was not willing to listen to the guiding voices telling him he was not going down the right path. Today, he is thanking those voices.

“I give thanks to those people who motivated me and gave me a speech going towards my career and believed in me. They are the driving force for me coming back to the JPL for a start over in my career,” said the striker.

Fletcher has always had a home with Montego Bay United, though, and whenever he has faced setbacks, the club has opened its doors to him, allowing him the chance to recalibrate.

Fletcher rejoined MBU for the third time in 2024 after playing in Albania. He has been the driving force behind Montego Bay United’s title push this season, blending experience with renewed hunger.

The 27-year-old came into this season aiming to score 25 goals and securing a bigger contract. He penned a heartfelt message thanking his supporters and the team.

“I leave with a heart full of gratitude and pride for having worn this badge. This isn’t a final goodbye but a ‘see you later. To my teammates, thank you for being my brothers on and off the field. We fought battles, celebrated victories, and grew together. To the coaching staff and management team, I am deeply grateful for the trust, guidance, and belief you placed in me. To the fans, you pushed me to reach heights I didn’t think were possible. Thank you for everything, MBU. Wishing nothing but the title and more players to get contracts. One love,” wrote Fletcher.

Yoni Epstein, chairman of MBU, said the team is committed to developing players and fostering international careers.

“This is our first player that we are sending overseas since the new ownership, and we wish him all the best. We want to ensure we provide players with international opportunities. That is the ethos and backbone of MBU,” said Epstein.

Epstein understands that Fletcher’s goals will be missed but believes that the sacrifice is worth it and that the depth of the squad will help them cushion the loss.

“We know he will make Montego Bay proud and Jamaica proud. We know he will find himself back at some point and close out his career after he has done extremely well and made us all proud internationally,” said Epstein.

Fletcher’s footballing acumen came to public attention during his schoolboy football career at Cornwall College. Notable among his achievements there was the role he played in bringing the team its 12th daCosta Cup title in 2016.

He then joined Faulkland FC before joining MBU. In 2017, he played for Jacinto College in Houston, Texas, before transferring in 2018 to Eastern Florida State College. In 2018, Fletcher re-signed with MBU after returning to Jamaica following trials in Malta then transferred to Mount Pleasant Academy in 2019.

In 2022, he signed with Gokulam Kerala, an Indian I-League team. There he was part of a team that became the first in 15 years to successfully defend an I-League title.

He then signed with North Eastern Re-Organising Cultural Association (NEROCA) Football Club before returning to Jamaica in 2024.

Fletcher is now using his resurgence to encourage young players to stay patient, reminding them that opportunities can arise unexpectedly.

“Don’t give up on your career because you don’t know what the future will bring. Even if you are down, stay ready and still push yourself forward because tomorrow, you can be called up for a big contract, and you don’t know what’s next.”