‘Football is in my blood’

SUPER-SUB JOHANN ‘Chip Chop’ Weatherly of Montego Bay United FC (MBU) said with coming off the bench this season, he wants to create enough opportunities and score as many goals to help bring the Jamaica Premier League (JPL) title home.

The 27-year-old Weatherly, a fan favourite who brings energy when he comes on as substitute, scored his first goal this season against Racing United FC on Sunday to help MBU win 4-0 at the Ferdie Neita Park in Portmore in added time. His teammates Brian Brown, Shaniel Thomas, and Tyrone Harrison added to the tally.

“There must be a reason the fans are always shouting for Chip Chop. It is what I bring to the game, the excitement and the type of player that I am. I always produce, so at all times the fans come out to see me. I give them something to talk about, they want to see their ‘balla’ Chip Chop with the ball. When I have the ball, they know things will happen or something will change in the game,” Weatherly told The Gleaner.

According to Weatherly, the former champions MBU are stronger and better this season.

“Coming into this season, we added some better players to get the depth of the squad, so we are a completely different squad this year, stronger and better. We should be our own defeat, we nuh really supposed to lose a game, maybe one or two games,” Weatherly explained.

Weatherly, no stranger to MBU, grew up in the youth academy and travelled overseas to play in under-12, uner-13 and under-15 tournaments.

He said he was introduced to football at a tender age because it has always been a part of his family.

“Football is in my blood. I started playing from age four and I can remember always having a football. My father, Dr Dean Weatherly is a coach who has been winning titles and my mother is a football lover just the same. No match, like Seba (formerly MBU) and Wadadah don’t miss my mother.”

Chop Chop also has experiences worthy of sharing with a MBU team with its sights set on a JPL title.

“I played one season for Munro College in the daCosta Cup. I had two more seasons left but I got an opportunity to play in the Major League Soccer (MLS) in the United States at LA Galaxy for the under-18s. I then went to Philadelphia United Academy.

Asked about how passionate he is about the sport, Weatherly said there is nothing he would rather do.

“I never had any other plans when I attended school. It was always professional football. I never yet tell myself I want to be a doctor or anything else, football is the way I see out. My biggest motivation and drive was to sign a professional contract. In the future, my goal is to have someone to say ‘I want to be just like Johann Weatherly’ or ‘I admire how he plays’.”

Becoming a starter again for his team is something Weatherly said he is patiently wait for.

“This season, with a new coach and new system, changes were made so mentally I have to be strong and motivate myself, and hopefully when I get my chance again, I will take it. I am more physically fit at this time than last season. Last season I came in with a knee injury and some weight. The management had personnel who were there to let me put in the extra work to get back sharp and to full fitness. When full fitness came in, I started getting starter minutes and produced in the second round,” Weatherly said.