Jamaican footballer inspired by Messi makes important step

At the height of the coronavirus pandemic when many people were in a state of panic and desperation, Nicholson was beaming with pride and optimism after securing a two-year football scholarship to Pearl River Community College in the United States.

Known as the Wild Cats, Pearl River is a public community college in Mississippi and competes in the Association of Community and Junior Colleges (MACJC) conference.

The striker has been included in the Wild Cats’ 24-man squad for the upcoming season and is already looking forward helping the team and developing as a player.

In an Old Harbour News exclusive, Nicholson said: “The aim is to get into university to better myself so I can help my family in the long run.”

“Since I’ve been here things have been fantastic,” added the 20-year-old Jamaican who grew up in Lloyds Pen, a tiny community in the Church Pen Division of south west St Catherine. “I don’t have any faults; the players treat me good and the coaches too. The focus is also about getting my grades up and help this college

“Since I’ve been here they made me feel at home and I am determined to put in the hard work both in my studies and on the field.”

Currently the diminutive forward who he prefers to play as a creative midfielder, will be doing general studies at Pearl River but wants to pursue a degree in business management when he matriculates to university.

The former Old Harbour Primary and Garvey Maceo High student showed early signs of his footballing skills which caught the eye of coach Lenworth Hyde Snr and manager Richard Palmer. Having had to sit out the 2016/17 daCosta Cup season after securing a transfer to Clarendon College, Nicholson spent two full seasons to help propel the Clarendon outfit to the pinnacle of schoolboy football.

He was the scorer of the second goal as the north Clarendon boys romped to a 3-0 victory over Dinthill Technical to retain the rural area daCosta Cup title in 2019. A week later he scored the decisive penalty to hand Clarendon College the Olivier Shield – the ultimate symbol of schoolboy football supremacy on the island.

A lot of plaudits went to coach Walters during that successful period, but Nicholson reserved special commendations for manager Palmer, the man behind his sojourn to Mississippi.

Speaking of Palmer, Nicholson said: “He was there for me, he took me in, took care of me, he ensured that we go to class and we are on our best behaviour and that we were disciplined on and off the pitch.”

It is that level of discipline, experience and winning mentality he intends to carry over at Pearl River in a squad that coach Drew Gallant said was “the most talented group we have had enter our program at one time since I've been here”.

"We're extremely excited about this class,” Gallant said after the squad was officially announced. “There is a lot of creativity from this group as a whole, which will suit our style of play because they'll have the freedom to express that ability on the pitch.

"Each of these signees should be able to step in and compete for playing time right away."

As the only Jamaican in the squad, Nicholson is keen on staking his claim and is well aware of what he must do to advance himself further up the ladder after paying close attention to “the dedication in their work” of Argentine star Messi and Brazilian playmaker Coutinho.

At Pearl River, the Wild Cats #9 from Jamaica will not only love having the “ball at my feet every time” but moreso the opportunity that comes with it.