KINGSTON, Jamaica — A major leadership shift has hit Jamaica’s top-flight football ahead of the upcoming Jamaica Premier League season, as long-time domestic soccer coach Donovan Duckie has stepped down from his post as head coach of Chapleton Maroons, effective immediately, the club’s circle confirmed Thursday.
The experienced tactician, who took the reins of the Clarendon-based side just one year prior in August 2025, saw his tenure at the club wrap up after just a single full campaign. In a formal resignation letter submitted to Chapleton Maroons President Kaycie Butler, Duckie described his choice to leave the role as an unexpectedly tough call, noting that extensive reflection led him to conclude the move aligned with his long-term personal and professional development goals.
Beyond announcing his departure, Duckie extended heartfelt appreciation to the club for the opportunity to lead the side. “It has been an honour to work with the players, staff and management during my time as head coach,” he wrote in the correspondence.
Duckie is no stranger to the upper echelons of Jamaican club football, with a well-travelled coaching resume that includes stints at multiple other Jamaica Premier League outfits: Mt Pleasant FA, Montego Bay United, Humble Lion, Waterhouse, and Vere United. He also brings experience in elite youth football development, having previously served as head coach of Jamaica’s National Under-20 men’s team, and has coached at the grassroots schoolboy level with Manchester High.
The departure now leaves Chapleton Maroons searching for a new senior leader to guide the club through its next Premier League campaign, with no immediate word from the club’s management on a timeline for naming a replacement.
Reporting by Paul A Reid