TT host Digicel youth Academy

[theworm2345]

TT host Digicel youth Academy
T&T Newsday

THE HASELY Crawford Stadium in Mucurapo will be the venue for the 2011 Digicel Kick Start Academy, which will culminate six weeks of the Digicel Kick Start Clinics throughout the Caribbean, North and Central America region.

The Kick Start Academy will be launched today at the Aura Restaurant, Cipriani Boulevard, Port-of-Spain, but the on-field action will run from tomorrow until Saturday.

And the closing ceremony will be held on Sunday afternoon at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo.

A total of 37 aspiring young footballers will attend the Academy, made up from the original Digicel Kick Start Clinics winners, along with boys chosen in Antigua and Trinidad through separate selection processes.

Throughout the week, the boys will train extensively under Sunderland’s “Academy of Light” coaches, Kevin Ball and Carlton Fairweather, as well as ex-Liverpool and England great John Barnes, and will also be treated to cultural and educational outings.

The once-in-a-lifetime experience will see the youngsters train as professional footballers for a week, and will also teach them invaluable life skills such as personal discipline, teamwork and good sportsmanship. Speaking of his hopes for the Digicel Academy, Fairweather commented: “it’s a huge honour for me personally and of course, for Sunderland Football Club, to be playing a part in the ongoing development of football across the Caribbean and Central America. We are looking forward to working with this talented group of youngsters and seeing just how far they can go.”

In addition, the Digicel Academy will also host “coach the coaches” sessions, with one local football association coach from each region travelling to receive training and tips from the world class Sunderland coaches, with an aim to improve their own standard of coaching upon returning home.

The Digicel Kick Start Clinics officially began on September 18 in Haiti, before travelling on to Panama, New York, St Kitts/Nevis, Grenada, Suriname and Jamaica.

In related news, on Saturday morning, the Hot Shot competition will be staged at the Queen’s Park Savannah, Port-of-Spain, opposite Casuals Corner. The Hot Shot contest is a skills-based shooting event with participants gaining points for shots netted through a cover over the goal.

http://www.newsday.co.tt/sport/0,149856.html

[Tallman]

Garcia tops Digicel Kick Start
T&T Guardian

T&T’s Akeem Garcia was awarded the Most Improved Player at the closing ceremony of the 2011 Digicel Kick Start Academy, held at the VIP Room of the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo, on Sunday. Garcia was among the 36 talented young athletes who were selected from the Caribbean, Panama and the United States to take part in the week-long training camp, headed by coaches of English Premier League Club Sunderland AFC, Kevin Ball and Carlton Fairweather. English football legend John Barnes was in T&T during the academy to offer the players some of his professional expertise. At the closing ceremony, each participant was presented with a medal and Certificate of Participation by the two coaches, who praised the young football proteges.

Ball said: “I saw evidence of what you learnt during the training come out in the games you played.” Fairweather urged them to “take what you’ve learnt back to your respective countries, and clubs and continue the good work.” The youngest player at the Digicel Kick Start Academy, 13-year-old Daniel Spronk of Antigua said of his experiences: “I’ve learnt a lot of different skills from the coaches and the hard work it takes to become a footballer.” He added that he hopes to keep in touch with his new friends through Facebook.  Digicel has sponsored the regional academy for the fourth year, and for the first time in T&T.

[Rastaman]

Garcia tops Digicel Kick Start
T&T Guardian

T&T’s Akeem Garcia was awarded the Most Improved Player at the closing ceremony of the 2011 Digicel Kick Start Academy, held at the VIP Room of the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo, on Sunday. Garcia was among the 36 talented young athletes who were selected from the Caribbean, Panama and the United States to take part in the week-long training camp, headed by coaches of English Premier League Club Sunderland AFC, Kevin Ball and Carlton Fairweather. English football legend John Barnes was in T&T during the academy to offer the players some of his professional expertise. At the closing ceremony, each participant was presented with a medal and Certificate of Participation by the two coaches, who praised the young football proteges.

Ball said: “I saw evidence of what you learnt during the training come out in the games you played.” Fairweather urged them to “take what you’ve learnt back to your respective countries, and clubs and continue the good work.” The youngest player at the Digicel Kick Start Academy, 13-year-old Daniel Spronk of Antigua said of his experiences: “I’ve learnt a lot of different skills from the coaches and the hard work it takes to become a footballer.” He added that he hopes to keep in touch with his new friends through Facebook.  Digicel has sponsored the regional academy for the fourth year, and for the first time in T&T.

Back Row from Left to Right
Kevin Ball(Sunderland AFC) Brian Williams, Dion La Focad, Coach Weeks, Bernard 'RASTAMAN' Allum and Carlton Fairweather(Sunderland AFC)
Front Row from Left to Right
Mathew(Dion La Focad Coaching School), Akeem Garcia(Jabloteh), Chris Lewis(Tobago), Rougier(W Connection) and two guest goalkeepers from Trinidad.


Sorry if I didn't get all the names right but right now I could go back to sleep.


Akeem Garcia won the Digicel Hot Shot Title as well as the Most Improved Player Award. The voting was a bit hard as the boys had to go around asking the the name of the players as they didn't know each others names. This boy is special. But I think that most locals that follow SSFL would already know that he is a fantastic goal scorer for his school St. Augustine.

The Hatian biy who won the MVP was very tallanted.... in the mold of a Latapy type player, every one was talking about. Unfortunately on the final day when we played full field games he held on to the ball way too much and probably cost our team the victory in the tournament(just my opinion).

Chris Lewis from Tobago captained his team in the final days tournament and was outstanding in defence. You can't tell from this picture but this youth is already about 6'2".

I must say that it was an over whelming experience shearing the training pitch and the side lines with people of the calibre of Dion La Focad and Brian Williams who I have heard about and watched play for the National Team when I was growing up. Before the week is out I will try to give a report on the whole week(have to get some help from Touches  )

[Cocorite]

Great looking forward to it, thanks Rastaman

[ZANDOLIE]

Great stuff. Its high time to let them boys run loose on the rest of CONCACAF.