Jamaica. Dervon McKellop : « Drone soccer is much more than a sport, it’s a pipeline for every innovating industries »
When people talk about drone soccer, Jamaica isn’t necessarily the first country that comes to mind. And yet… Since its impressive victory at the International Drone Fest in Palm Springs, the team coached by Dervon McKellop has been gaining popularity in the FIDA world. This team is breaking the traditional mold of drone soccer and embodying the sport’s growth in the Caribbean.
Barely a year old, Jamaica Drone Soccer is already competing with the big names. Founded by Dervon McKellop, the organization benefits from the expertise of a man with a diverse career background:“The great thing is that, indirectly, I’d been involved in every aspect of Drone Soccer even before launching the initiative. I discovered drones at a very young age because I’ve always had a keen interest in drones and aviation. Later, I worked in information technology and cybersecurity, and then in the education system, where I had the opportunity to teach courses in these fields in both Jamaica and the United States,” says the current drone technology consultant.
The Ideal territory
As in any other country, Jamaica Drone Soccer places a strong emphasis on education as part of its development. From the very beginning, the initiative has been built around an educational vision in which drones serve as a valuable learning tool for STEM/STEAM subjects. For Dervon McKellop, Drone Soccer serves as an educational platform that connects theoretical knowledge to practical applications: “In Jamaica, integrating Drone Soccer into the school system allows young people to have fun while internalizing three key concepts. Education, the values of sports, and work ethic. They develop skills such as mapping, data collection, and piloting. Today, Drone Soccer is much more than a sport—it’s a pipeline for every innovative industry: aviation, engineering, and agriculture,” exclaims the association’s president.
Palm Springs as a spectacular debut
As Class 40 specialists, the Jamaicans impressed the Drone Soccer world last May by winning the coveted Palm Springs tournament in the U.S. Facing tough competition from teams like Kazakhstan and the United States, Dervon McKellop’s team completely dominated the competition. It was a surprise for such a young team, and one that is a source of pride for its president: “It’s a source of immense pride to win this competition. It shows that Jamaica and the Caribbean are at the cutting edge of drone soccer technology. We may not be the most popular or the best-equipped, but we hold our own. I hope this victory will bring some recognition to the country and pave the way for our Caribbean neighbors.”
A Unique Identity
If Jamaica stood out in Palm Springs, it was above all for its innovative strategy, the “Eye Formation.” Developed by Dervon, this strategy highlights the defensive players on the roster to cover the entire width of the offensive lanes in front of the donut. A plan directly inspired by the Korean roots of Drone Soccer:“Last year, we went to Korea for the World Cup. We spoke with many Korean coaches about the strategic aspects of Drone Soccer, and we learned a great deal. We returned to Jamaica with a wealth of knowledge but, above all, one idea in mind: to forge our own identity. That’s how the Eye Formation was born. I could never have developed it without the help of my players, but today other teams recognize us for this defensive setup.”
The Funding Challenge
As with any emerging sport, the financial aspect remains a major challenge to the development of drone soccer. Jamaica is no exception. For a team with such ambitions, one that seeks to take on the big names, securing financial support is essential—if only to cover travel expenses for competitions. But Dervon is optimistic about this: “This victory in Palm Springs has brought us a lot of recognition and interest in Jamaica. We were invited by the Prime Minister to Jamaica House to meet with the government and introduce them to Drone Soccer. This is already an encouraging first sign of support for the future.”
The Surprise of the Intercontinental Cup?
This week, Jamaica is flying to Korea to compete in the Intercontinental Cup organized by FIDA. It’s an event where the Caribbean team is highly anticipated following their recent performances, and where Dervon McKellop has high hopes:“We’ve received financial support from TBS and the Ministry of Sports to participate in this event. It’s incredibly important for us to represent them, Jamaica, and the Caribbean, on the home turf of drone soccer in Korea. We need to put into practice everything we’ve learned since the World Cup—what we’ve been training for over several months. Ever since Palm Springs, top teams have been waiting to take us on and are eager to face us. We have a very well-rounded, multigenerational team with players up to 60 years old. But we can hold our own against these top teams—they’re human like us, after all, and we have our strategy,” says Dervon McKellop proudly, with a slight smile, before flying off to Korea.