BASSETERRE, St. Kitts - AS the 2014 Digicel Kick Start Clinic graces the shores of St. Kitts and Nevis, the President of the St. Kitts-Nevis Football Association (SKNFA) has hailed the programme a foundation for future success for young footballers.
The Digicel Kick Start Clinic takes place in St. Kitts and Nevis on Monday (Jun. 16) to Wednesday (Jun. 18) at the Newtown Playfield, starting 3:00 p.m. daily in which 30 participants will undergo rigorous training by three coaches from Chelsea FC.
Speaking at a press conference on yesterday (Jun. 16), SKNFA’s President Anthony Johnson outlined the importance of the programme on local football development.
“Over the years Digicel has led the way in ensuring that this programme has been the foundation of success for a number of our young players. In fact, we have had a number of players who have gone on from this level to England, and in more recent times Trinidad and Barbados.”
He then made mention of some of the players who have benefitted from the clinic over the years.
“I speak of persons such as Gerrard Williams who today is the captain of W Connection in Trinidad and Tobago. In fact, last year he was voted Best Midfielder in Trinidad and Tobago and this year was voted Best Player in Trinidad and Tobago, and led his team to the championship.
“We have other players in Devaughn Elliott who is also playing in Trinidad and went on to England in the earlier years. Kyron Phillip, who is a member of the St. Peter’s Football Club, who this year did very well in the Final Four.
“We also have players such as Evansroy Barnes, Vinceroy Nelson, Hassani Flemming and Wasim Howe, all players in the Premier League, who started with this Kick Start programme.”
Johnson then reiterated the importance of the initiative.
“ It is clear that this programme is indeed a programme that can be used and has been used as the foundation as a means of developing one’s self in order to achieve greater success later on…on and off the field of play.
“We want to thank Digicel and Chelsea Football Club for continuing this programme and continuing to come to St. Kitts and Nevis.”
International Technical Support Officer at Chelsea Football Club, Steven Allan Winnet disclosed that they were eager to return to the Federation and that their expectations about the local football talent has been raised.
“As a club, we have been counting down the days since we last visited St. Kitts and Nevis…We have a great understanding of the football talent in St. Kitts and Nevis and have also raised our expectations.”
He added that the clinic is now in a year of evolution and has adopted the Chelsea FC ideology.
“In this the eight year of the Digicel Kick Start Programme, we enter into a year of evolution where the Chelsea FC philosophy is in full effect. The success of last season’s academy has meant, just like our football club, we must continue to improve and move forward.
“This year’s clinic will surely put our expertise to the test. We have extended our contact time to two full days of workout sessions, including full-sided games and a presentation on day two.”
It was also announced that a special day was created to target female football development in each category.
“As a strong advocate for women’s football myself, we are proud to highlight that in each market an extra day will be added to the clinic for a group of selected females. That is, ensuring we have a positive impact in all parts of the community.”
Digicel’s Marketing Manager Marsha Chatterjee called on the participants to cherish the opportunity and claimed that her company is always happy to showcase and develop the talent in the Federation.
“Over the years we have seen this clinic grow from strength to strength and we are so delighted that Chelsea FC and the Foundation have come on board to be a part of showcasing the talents and even enhancing skills that are present in the federation.
“It is not by chance we are here, because they are many Caribbean countries that would like the Kick Start Clinic to be hosted in their country. But we have seen the talent and aspirations of our young men and for that reason each year, whenever there is a tender, we always make a bid for it to be back in St. Kitts and Nevis.”
At the end of the Clinic all the participants will receive Chelsea FC-endorsed Certificates of Participation and three of the young footballers will also be selected to attend an all-expense paid trip to the Digicel Kick Start Academy in Bridgetown, Barbados and represent St. Kitts and Nevis against other Caribbean islands in which Digicel operates.
