BASSETERRE, St. Kitts - THE three footballers who attended the Digicel Football Kickstart Academy are on their way back to St. Kitts and Nevis following a week of training in Barbados with coaches of Chelsea Football Club.
The footballers, Tahir Hanley, Raheem Francis and Jamar Smith, were accompanied by Coach Jeffrey ‘Pedro’ Hazel.
In an exciting conclusion to their training at the Academy, the 32 aspiring young footballers took on the Barbados Under 17 teams in a round robin tournament.
The Academy participants were divided into two teams – each playing the Under 17 national side, as well as each other in three 30-minute matches.
The Barbados Under 17 teams won the round robin tournament on goal difference with the Digicel Academy teams showing off some of what they learnt in the past week.
A prize-giving ceremony followed the tournament in which each of the 32 participants was rewarded with a certificate and a medal from Digicel and Chelsea.
Four special prizes were awarded to the individual Hot Shot Winner, the Most Valuable Player, Most Improved Player and the player who displayed the Best Sportsmanship.
Speaking at the award ceremony, Chelsea International Development Officer and Academy Head Coach, David Monk said: “Firstly, I want to congratulate each and every one of the Digicel Academy participants – as well as the eight coaches – for what has been an outstanding week of hard work and professionalism. You should be very proud of yourselves.
“For us, in the first of a three-year partnership with Digicel, it has been a very successful week of coaching and we look forward to the great things to come in the development of youth football in the Caribbean and Central America over the next number of years.”
The Digicel Academy marks the culmination of the 2012 Digicel Kick Start Clinics and sees the talent of top footballers from around the Caribbean come together for the opportunity of a lifetime by spending one week training in the beautiful game under Chelsea coaches.
