Digicel Kick Start clinics coach and England and Liverpool football Legend, John Barnes, has chosen the four aspiring young footballers from Grenada who will go through to the Digicel Academy in T&T from November 1 to 7. The four footballers from the Spice Island-Marcio Mc Queen, Shevon John-Brown, Tevin Grant and Nakim Straker-were chosen from a competitive group of 30 who all showcased their talent during the three-day clinic. The boys will now join the "crème de la crème" of young footballing talent at the Digicel Academy-a week-long elite training camp under the leadership of top Barclays Premier League coaches, Kevin Ball and Carlton Fairweather, from the Sunderland Academy, assisted by John Barnes.
Kevin Ball, SAFC assistant academy manager, said; "We are really looking forward to working with the Digicel youngsters. The Digicel Kick Start Clinics offer a fantastic opportunity to kids who might otherwise not get the chance to showcase their talents." Barnes said; "I would like to congratulate all of the boys who trained over the past three days. I am not surprised by the high level of skill and talent that I have found here in Grenada. With the right attitude and discipline, I know that these young footballers can have a bright future. I have seen the commitment of the local coaches and with continued guidance and the right attitude, they can become world-class footballers." The Digicel Academy will also host a "coach the coaches" seminar in which coaches from across the region will get expert training from Sunderland AFC's finest teachers.
On Tuesday, Barnes selected four players from St Kitts/Nevis in Vinceroy Nelson, Wazim Howe, Evanceroy Barnes and Hassani Flemming. The St Kitts/Nevis clinics attracted a large crowd of supporters including parents, high-school children, football enthusiasts, members of the media as well as St Kitts/Nevis' very own World Athletic champion, Kim Collins, who came out to encourage the aspiring young footballers and witness the "Hot Shot" wild card session with the Kick Start footballers. The four players chosen from Haiti are: Jean Junot Valentin, Erickson Phédé, Jonathan Monplaisir and Gédéon Daniel; Alcides Moreno, Jonathan Murillo, Iván Darío Murillo, Carlos Arturo Saavedra and wildcard Luis Cañate were selected in Panama while the quartet of Ronaldo Charlton, Tyrone Harrison, Lamar Larmond and Bradley Nestor were selected from the Caribbean diaspora in New York. The clinic next travels to Suriname (today until Wednesday) and Jamaica (October 13-16) before culminating in a week-long training session at the Digicel Academy in T&T.
