Waterhouse fine sparks questions over JC star Lyle’s eligibility in schoolboy football

KINGSTON, Jamaica – A major controversy has erupted around Jamaica College’s (JC) 2026 Inter-Secondary Schools Sports Association (ISSA) schoolboy football campaign following revelations that star player Jamone Lyle has signed a professional contract, potentially rendering him ineligible for high school competition.

The issue came to a head following a disciplinary letter issued by Jamaica Premier League club Waterhouse Football Club, who Lyle represents in that competition.

The letter, dated October 9, 2026, details a disciplinary hearing where Waterhouse FC fined Lyle $60,000 for “unauthorised participation” in a Manning Cup match on October 7, 2026. According to the club, Lyle ignored explicit instructions from head coach Donovan Duckie and general secretary Richard McCallum, prohibiting him from taking the field for JC, thereby breaching his professional contract and club rules.