Jumpp
Claudia Gardner, Gleaner Writer
WESTERN BUREAU:
NINETEEN-year-old Dewayne Jumpp is the latest Hanover addition to Jamaica's national Under-20 football squad, this for the second time.
A former Rusea's striker, the versatile Jumpp now plays as a top defender for last season's Hanover Division One champions Bamboo United of Hopewell in the Western Confederation Super League.
Jumpp, who hails from the Bamboo community, started playing football at the tender age of eight while a student at Bethel All-Age in the parish. He went on to Rusea's where he represented that school at Under-14, Under-16 and later for three years at the daCosta Cup level. He then represented Wadadah's Under-20s in neighbouring Montego Bay before returning to Bamboo earlier this year.
He credits Rusea's and Bamboo's coach Anthony "Follies" Williams as being his mentor whom, he said, has been a source of inspiration over the years.
"Mr. Williams is also from the Hopewell community. He really pushed me," Jumpp said. "During my days at Rusea's, my stint at Wadadah and even now at Bamboo.
LACK OF FUNDING
"I love Bamboo," Jumpp said. "This team emerged out of our little community in Hopewell and despite a lack of funding and failing to advance to the National Premier League this season, we have done well," he said.
Jumpp has been on numerous championship-winning football teams in his 19 years including the Rusea's Under-16 team which won three championship trophies including the Puma Trophy in 2001 of which he was the leading goalscorer; and the Rusea's daCosta Cup champion team which also captured the Oliver Shield in 2002. He was also the competition's second-leading goalscorer that year.
His favourite national footballer is Theodore Whitmore, while the Brazilian Ronaldo is his most revered international player.
According to Jumpp, he is from a "football family". His older brother is a striker at Bamboo while his cousin goalkeeps for the team. Another of his cousins, Dennis Jumpp, captained Rusea's triple Cup victories in 1993, claiming the daCosta and Ben Francis Cups as well as the Olivier Shield that year.
The national youth player sees himself as a winner and aims to go as far as football will take him. His aim for the future is to represent the senior national football team and later a European football club and further his studies.
"I aim high," Jumpp stated. "However, my immediate plans are to work together with the rest of the team at Bamboo to ensure that we gain a place in the National Premier League this upcoming Super League season."
