Jamaica will take flight on the global stage on Thursday when its drone soccer team makes its debut at the inaugural F.I.D.A Drone Soccer World Cup, now underway in Jeonju, South Korea.
The three-day event, which runs until September 27, will see competitors from across the globe battling in four divisions—Class 20, Class 40, Cracing, and Super Pilot—at both the club and international levels.
Jamaica’s first test comes in the Cracing International Time Attack competition, where they will face Hong Kong and Singapore. That event is set to begin at 1:00 a.m. Jamaica time.
The Jamaican team is led by Dervon Mckellop, who serves as President, Coach, and player. Mckellop will feature as Keeper, Striker, Sweeper, Defender, and Guide across the Class 20, Class 40, and Super Pilot divisions.
He is joined by Timothy Lee, who will take on roles as Striker, Sweeper, Guide, and Defender in the Class 20, Class 40, Cracing, and Super Pilot brackets, while Keith Carter will contribute in Class 20 and Class 40 as Striker, Sweeper, Guide, and Defender.
Carl Heron will line up as Striker, Guide, Keeper, Sweeper, and Defender across Class 20, Class 40, Cracing, and Super Pilot, with Joshua Forbes competing as Striker and Defender in Class 20.
Rounding out the squad are Addison Clarke, who will play as Striker and Defender in Class 20, and Jhanae Bailey, who will serve as Striker and Defender in Class 20 and Class 40.
The Jamaicans have been drawn in multiple brackets across the tournament. In the Class 20 International competition, they will face Spain and India in Group F. They will also meet India, Kazakhstan, and Singapore in the Super Pilot Class 40 Time Attack.
In the Class 40 International bracket, Jamaica will open their campaign against China in Group A1, which also includes Chinese Taipei and Spain. The team is also set to contest a Super Pilot Class 20 Time Attack group featuring Australia, Canada, and Slovakia.
Those events are scheduled for Saturday in South Korea, which will be Friday Jamaica time.