Barnes

FOOTBALL IN the Caribbean region is set to benefit from a series of youth development clinics, organised by Digicel Jamaica, to offer talented young footballers a chance to learn invaluable football skills and to realise their dreams of becoming professional footballers.

The series, dubbed 'Digicel Kick Start Football Clinics', will be led by former England and Liverpool star John Barnes who will also take on the role of head coach. The clinics are slated to begin early next year in Jamaica, Guyana, Barbados, Haiti, Antigua, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago and St. Kitts.

Six of the most talented young footballers from the programme will be chosen by Barnes to travel to the United Kingdom to spend a week at a top English Barclays Premier League football club where they will take part in an intensive training session.

Fantastic opportunity

Speaking at the photoshoot for the Digicel Kick Start Football Clinics, Barnes said: "I'm looking forward to the clinics and to seeing the level of talent among the next generation of Caribbean footballers.

"Talent here needs to be harnessed and given an opportunity and these clinics developed by Digicel are an opportunity to do just that."

Digicel Group commercial director, Brian Finn, is optimistic that the programme will offer young aspiring footballers a fantastic opportunity to learn key skills of the game by training with Barnes.

"Digicel is already a huge supporter of Caribbean football through the Digicel Caribbean Cup, Digicel Shield and Digicel international matches and these clinics are another example of our commitment to the game," Finn said.

The clinics, which will be organised in association with the Caribbean Football Union (CFU), were developed by Digicel, with the support of FIFA vice president, Jack Warner.

Full details of the Digicel Kick Start Clinics will be announced over the coming weeks and will include details on how local clubs and school teams can participate in the clinics.