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Goalkeeper Barclett content with being Cavalier’s saviour
May 27, 2025
Cavalier Soccer Club's penalty shootout victory over Mount Pleasant Football Academy in the Jamaica Premier League (JPL) Super Final at the National Stadium on Friday was largely down to one player, St Lucian goalkeeper Vino Barclett.
Barclett was not only the difference over the 90 minutes and throughout extra time, he saved the decisive kick, from Clifford Thomas, to hand his team their second straight title and their third in five seasons.
Barclett admitted to have had his fair share of uncertainty during the season, but said that he worked hard and came back stronger for the playoffs, as he knew he had to step up for the big occasions.
"As you know big players step up in big moments, and this was a big moment. So I had to step up for my team and get this victory," Barclett said.
"(In the) regular season, I didn't have the best of seasons. But it is not about the regular season in the Jamaica Premier League, it is all about the playoffs.
"So from you make it to the top six, there is no turning back. You have to give it your all. So I worked and worked, and from we knew we were making the top six, I worked hard so I could be better," Barclett shared.
"I looked at the comments on Instagram and everything and I had to shut up those critics," he stated.
Barclett was an inspiration throughout the game. Franco Celestine had the first real chance for Mount Pleasant, but Barclett parried his near post effort for a corner.
Mount Pleasant continued to have the better of possession and in the 14th minute Barclett denied Jahshaun Anglin's ferocious shot at his near post.
After half-time, Mount Pleasant came storming back and both Anglin and McCalla had shots from close range that were blocked by Barclett.
Mount Pleasant also had another great chance at 70 minutes, but Raheem Edwards' weak shot was blocked by Barclett. Two minutes later, the goalkeeper was called into action again, tipping Daniel Green's curling shot for a corner.
PENALTY SHOOTOUT
Then in the penalty shootout, with his team leading 6-5 and Mount Pleasant needing to score to keep the title challenge alive, Barclett dived and pushed Thomas' kick against the post, before the ball rebounded outfield, to give Cavalier the win.
Barclett pointed that Cavalier were well prepared to go to penalties and that he was especially disappointed when Christopher Ainsworth missed, but said he knew he had to bail out his teammates.
"We have been training (for) penalties since quarter-finals. We know our kickers. We know everything we want to do," the goalie said.
"But I am disappointed with the kick of Christopher Ainsworth. He is one of the best penalty takers. So I had to step up for him and I did."
He added: "From I was a kid I liked to throw myself around. I watched videos and I learned some things, so that some day I could save a player. So that was the aim when we got to penalties, to let me do my thing."
Barclett has been involved in all three JPL finals between Cavalier and Mount Pleasant, having joined the Jamaica outfit in January 2022, and he admits that he is feeling very much at home in Jamaica and the league.
"I feel great, being that I am a St Lucian and I am putting my country on the map. It is what I always want to do, I always want to be a part of a big family, doing history," he continued.
Barclett, who is also number one for the St Lucia national team, will be hoping he can help his country to overcome Curacao, and then Barbados, in Concacaf World Cup qualifiers in June.
"With my national team we have a lot of qualifiers next month. I only have like a day to celebrate and refocus for World Cup qualifiers," he said..
"We know it's tough and we are a small nation. But we have been striving, and that's all we can do, strive for greatness."
