Wed | Dec 18, 2024

Pearson extending his stay with FC Tulsa

Published:Monday | January 2, 2023 | 12:36 AMDaniel Wheeler/Staff Reporter
Christopher Pearson (left) in action for Kingston College against St Andrew Technical during a Manning Cup semi-final match in January 2022.
File
Christopher Pearson (left) in action for Kingston College against St Andrew Technical during a Manning Cup semi-final match in January 2022.

Former Cavalier midfielder Christopher Pearson will have his chance at consistent playing time and to further integrate himself in the setup as he will return to the United Soccer League championship club FC Tulsa for the 2023 season.

Pearson, 19, was announced as one of the players that the club has retained for next season after making just five appearances for the club since signing from the 2021 Jamaica Premier League champions in July. Pearson made his club debut on September 7 and although he finished with no goals or assists, he started the club’s last four regular-season games, a campaign which saw them miss out on the play-offs, finishing eighth in the Eastern Conference with 42 points.

Showed enough to impress

Despite his limited playing time this season, Pearson showed enough to impress head coach Blair Gavin, which has him excited for the progress that he can make in his first full season with the club.

“Chris has shown he can play at a high level at a young age. His hunger to improve and his desire to help the team will allow him to reach his full potential,” Gavin told the club website on Tuesday.

Getting his feet wet in the league in the few games he played was beneficial for Pearson, who says that he is looking forward to this year.

“I’ve gained the familiarity with my teammates and the league in the latter part of last season that has helped me to prepare myself for this upcoming season,” Pearson told the club website.

Pearson is coming off a year where he helped Kingston College capture the 2021-22 ISSA/Digicel Manning Cup title after defeating Jamaica College on penalities and also winning the Olivier Shield in his final schoolboy football season. As a member of Cavalier, he helped them progress to the Jamaica Premier League semi-finals, where they would see their 2021 title reign end at the hands of Dunbeholden in a thrilling penalty shootout. Pearson represented Jamaica at the Under-20 Concacaf Championships and was called up to the senior team during Jamaica’s final World Cup qualifying window in March.