Background
Ian De Souza ‘Pepe’ Goodison has returned to Jamaica’s premier league and debuted for HVFC last Sunday at Effortville Sports Compelx in our away fixture against Humble Lion FC.
His long outstanding local KSAFA Major and JFF Premier League heroics spanned the football landscape from the early days of the 1990s at the Olympic Gardens FC at their small, enclosed community-based cricket grounds at Cling Cling Avenue as a local field marshall.
He led from the front and guided Olympic Gardens FC to the first National title in the Jamaica National Building Society sponsored All Island Federation Cup Knockout inaugural Championship in 1993. They defeated a host of Premier League contenders islandwide while playing in the lower Kingston and St. Andrew second tier competition; Pepe’s heroics elevated his team’s reputation.
He was included in the National outfits, soon to become a legendary Reggae Boyz central defender, having the most caps for the Reggae Boyz of all time (120). Pepe made his name internationally as a regular starter in the Rene Simoes years throughout the 1994-98 campaign and a historic debut at the FIFA World Cup 1998 in France.
At British League One Club, Tranmere Rovers, he is revered by teammates, coaches, managers and fans for over a decade and a half of high quality performances speaks for itself. They still follow him regularly, recently on our HVFC social media networks.
Debut
Pepe returned home recently and voiced an enthusiasm to play another season in the local Red Stripe Premier League. His close friend and our newly installed Coach, Ricardo ‘Bibi’ Gardner’s, inquiry was easily accepted by the Technical Team. He started training soon after but got an injury in a practice game and received treatment, missing our first home game against Boys’ Town FC.
In Clarendon, he had a debut of class, displaying supreme professionalism is how it could be described. Calm, quiet and effectively commanding respect from his younger teammates throughout the game, as well as opposing players who lost their patience momentarily. Captain of the opposing team, Ricardo Cousins, after being ejected was relaxed within the aura of the big man walking across to him and having a quiet word, resulting in the required action being taken. Even the FIFA Referee Valdin Ledgister’s blunder of awarding a corner which led to the first goal after the Humble Lion player last headed the ball, was discussed with respect not elevated to indiscipline. Later at a further break in play, private and professional talks were had with the assistant Referee as seen in the picture attached.
The main example of any experienced player is how he copes with younger, fitter and faster opponents on the field of play, one on one. Probably telling you the that he played all 90 minutes without real bother, gives an impression. Rushed on the ball only once, he was ahead of his rivals mentally by getting in and out of positions as he read the flow of the game early, made adjustments, and executed effectively with precision and guided his defensive lines. Dangerous in the air both in defense and attack he contributed to his team play; He was in charge for most of the match.
He walked off the field shaking hands with many opponents, teammates, officials and HVFC supporters along the sidelines, leaving a personal touch.
A fair start in returning to a difficult league, surface and venue in Effortville against last year’s most improved team, gives a creditable mark. Only time will tell how well he plays but history suggests he could soar above average heights of expectations.
Let us follow his progress throughout the season.