BASSETERRE, St. Kitts-SIXTEEN-year-old Malivai Harris struggled to hold back his emotions yesterday (Feb. 11) as it was announced that he would soon be leaving for England to begin trials as a potential addition to one of the nation’s 92 professional football clubs.
Harris plays the position of central defender for Basseterre High School, and has been a part of the St. Kitts-Nevis Football Association’s (SKNFA) Youth Programme since the age of eight. He has also represented St. Kitts-Nevis on the national U-15, U-17 and U-20 teams.
The young footballer was hand selected for the trials programme by Michael ‘Mick’ Wadsworth, a UK football scout who has worked with the Federation for the past ten years and helped to discover past superstars such as Atiba Harris.
“The reality is that it is now in Malivai’s hands because the opportunity is given, and we will place him in more than one club. I am fairly sure that if Malivai performs to his potential, that he will be offered a youth training contract in England,” Wadsworth said at the Football House press conference yesterday.
Departing the Federation in July after his examinations are over, Harris will have roughly three months to impress the English coaching staffs, but Wadsworth said he was confident in the Newtown native’s chances.
“Malivai is talented and has outstanding athletic ability, which is a prerequisite in European football. Also, because of my reputation, lots of the older clubs know me and will look at my recommendation for Malivai, and I feel he has a fantastic chance of making it.”
If Harris is accepted by a club he will receive a two year contract and free educational training, which is a “mandatory” part of England’s youth programme. Wadsworth and Harris agreed that he would have to undertake intensive training in the months between now and July if he is to be prepared for the “tough, competitive, and vicious world of professional football”.
“It’s going to be vicious and tough, but I am going to go through it for St. Kitts to make us proud, make my school proud and show the young ones that you can make something out of your life,” Harris said. “I’ll be taking on some hard training, physical training to help get fitter.”
The young footballer gave special thanks to his parents, Jacinth Harris and William Thompson, during the press conference for their continued support of his potential career in sport.
Ms. Harris said that she was “proud of him and he has always worked hard” at both football and academics since a young age, while the boy’s father said that as parents their philosophy had always been to “make sure at all times that he is prepared, attends his training, goes to school…and is supported financially”.
While no one could have been more proud of Harris than his parents, SKNFA Youth Director Lenny Lake said that he had a special place in his heart for the young man after working with him for many years.
“This morning is emotional for me because after working with a player for so many years, wondering where he is going to go and then finally see that he has an opportunity out of a programme that was created locally—it only makes you feel very satisfied,” he said.
SKNFA President R. A. Peter Jenkins said that he viewed Malivai’s acceptance to the English trials as an event that would “provide opportunities and encouragement to youngsters from his particular community” and the wider nation.
