- October, 03 2011 -
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FOURTH LEG OF THE DIGICEL KICK START CLINICS 2011 GET UNDERWAY IN ST. KITTS
- 30 footballers in St. Kitts and Nevis begin training with England and Liverpool Legend, John Barnes
Sunday 2nd October 2011 – Basseterre, St. Kitts: Digicel yesterday officially kicked off the fourth leg of the Digicel Kick Start Clinics 2011 at a press conference featuring Head Coach and England and Liverpool football legend, John Barnes, at the St Kitts and Nevis Football Association’s (SKNFA) Football House in Basseterre, St. Kitts.
Present at the press conference were the 30 aspiring young footballers who were chosen to take part in the three day Clinic where they will be put through their paces in the hope of securing a place in the elite Digicel Academy.
The Digicel Academy – which takes place in Trinidad from November 1st to 7th – will see the ‘crème de la crème’ of footballing talent from the eight Digicel Kick Start Clinic countries come together to spend one week developing their skills and technical ability as well as learning valuable life skills such as personal discipline and commitment – under the leadership of top Barclays Premier League coaches from the Sunderland Academy, assisted by John Barnes.
During the press conference, John Barnes, spoke to the young footballers about what will set them apart and said; “We all know that you have some level of footballing skill – that skill has won you your place in the Digicel Kick Start Clinics. However, when making my selection for the Digicel Academy in Trinidad, the emphasis will be placed on your attitude and discipline for the sport.”
John Barnes also encouraged the young boys present to emulate the Kittitian footballers who were previously selected for the Digicel Kick Start Academy – as both are now key players on the St. Kitts and Nevis National Football Team.
St. Kitts and Nevis Minster of Youth and Sports, the Honourable Glen “Ghost” Phillip, spoke on behalf of not only his Ministry, but also on behalf of the wider Government and said; “The Government of St. Kitts and Nevis fully endorses the Digicel Kick Start Clinic here in the Federation – and we would like to commend Digicel for its endless contribution and commitment to the development of youth and sports in St. Kitts and Nevis.”
The three day Clinic continues today and tomorrow when John Barnes will name the four best players who will take a place in the Digicel Academy.
The Digicel Kick Start Clinics programme officially kicked off on Sunday 18th September in Haiti before travelling on to Panama, New York, St. Kitts & Nevis, Grenada, Suriname, Jamaica and Trinidad and culminating in a week long training session at the Digicel Academy (also in Trinidad) from Tuesday November 1st to Monday November 7th.
For more information, visit www.digicelfootball.com
ENDS
THE ROAD TO THE ACADEMY TIMELINE
| Country | John Barnes Clinic Dates |
| Haiti | Sunday 18th – Thursday 22nd September |
| Panama | Friday 23rd – Monday 26th September |
| New York | Tuesday 27th – Friday 30th September |
| St. Kitts & Nevis | Saturday 1st – Tuesday 4th October |
| Grenada | Wednesday 5th – Saturday 8th October |
| Suriname | Sunday 9th – Wednesday 12th October |
| Jamaica | Thursday 13th – Sunday 16th October |
| Trinidad | The Digicel Academy – Tuesday 1st – Monday 7th November |
ABOUT SUNDERLAND AFC
Formed in 1879, Sunderland AFC joined the English Football League in 1890.
Based in the football hotbed of the North East of England, the club has a rich and proud history stretching across many decades, most memorably lifting the top accolade in English Football, the FA Cup, in 1937 and 1973.
Also known as the Black Cats, Sunderland play their home matches at the 49,000 capacity Stadium of Light, moving from their former home of Roker Park in 1997.
In 2010-11 the club finished in the top ten of the Barclays Premier League and subsequently made 11 additions to its playing squad in the summer of 2011 - including Wes Brown and John O’Shea from Manchester United, Swedish international Sebastian Larsson, South Korean striker Ji Dong Won and England U21 rising star Connor Wickham.
SUNDERLAND AFC & DIGICEL
Sunderland AFC has partnered with Digicel in the hugely successful Kick Start Clinics since 2008, welcoming youngsters from the project to its training headquarters as well as sending senior coaching staff to the Caribbean to lead clinics.
Steve Bruce said: “Sunderland is proud to be associated with such a successful project and we are delighted that we can continue to share our club’s expertise and help to give youngsters across the Caribbean and Central America the opportunity to achieve their football dreams.”
ABOUT DIGICEL GROUP
After ten years of operation, Digicel Group Limited has 11.5 million customers across its 32 markets in the Caribbean, Central America and the Pacific. The company is renowned for delivering best value, best service and best network.
Digicel is the lead sponsor of Caribbean, Central American and Pacific sports teams, including the Special Olympics teams throughout these regions. Digicel sponsors the West Indies cricket team and is also the title sponsor of the Digicel Caribbean Cup. In the Pacific, Digicel is the proud sponsor of several national rugby teams and also sponsors the Vanuatu cricket team.
Digicel also runs a host of community-based initiatives across its markets and has set up Digicel Foundations in Jamaica, Haiti and Papua New Guinea which focus on educational, cultural and social development programmes.
In 2004, Digicel developed Digicel Rising Stars – an annual talent show to support aspiring young music artists in the Caribbean. The show has spanned the Eastern Caribbean, Haiti, Jamaica and Trinidad & Tobago ranking as one of the top-rated shows.
Digicel is incorporated in Bermuda and its markets comprise: Anguilla, Antigua & Barbuda, Aruba, Barbados, Bermuda, Bonaire, the British Virgin Islands, the Cayman Islands, Curacao, Dominica, El Salvador, Fiji, French Guiana, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Martinique, Nauru, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, St Kitts & Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent & the Grenadines, Suriname, Tonga, Trinidad & Tobago, Turks & Caicos and Vanuatu. Digicel also has coverage in St. Martin and St. Barts in the Caribbean.
Visit www.digicelgroup.com for more information.
