- August, 29 2011 -
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- New look structure will see over 30 players win a place in the elite Digicel Academy
Monday, August 29th 2011 – Kingston, Jamaica: Digicel today announced the launch of the all new 2011 Digicel Kick Start Clinics – which this year introduces the Digicel Academy, a week-long elite training camp under the leadership of top Barclays Premier League coaches from the Sunderland Academy, assisted by England and Liverpool football legend, John Barnes.
To win a place in the Digicel Academy, aspiring young footballers must qualify from the Digicel Kick Start Clinics which will take place over several weeks and across eight countries during September and October, under the expert coaching of John Barnes.
From each of the eight Clinic countries, a number of players will be selected to go through to the elite Digicel Academy where they will spend a week developing their skills and technical ability as well as learning valuable life skills such as personal awareness and self-esteem – all through positive reinforcement, fostering an appreciation of soccer's intrinsic values.
While in previous Digicel Kick Start Clinic programmes, the select few aspiring young footballers won a chance to spend a week in Sunderland AFC, this year Digicel is bringing these internationally acclaimed professional coaches to teach in the Digicel Academy – meaning many more players will have the chance to fulfill their dreams of being coached at Premier League level. The broader, more inclusive approach to the new look Digicel Kick Start Clinics programme was developed in consultation with the Caribbean Football Union (CFU) and its affiliate members.
Ultimately, the week-long training camp at the Digicel Academy will host the crème de la crème of the region’s talent where they will receive expert coaching in the beautiful game.
In addition to the new Digicel Academy, the selection process has been developed to include dozens of pre-Clinic sessions being held in each of the eight countries, giving even more aspiring young footballers the chance to fulfill their dreams.
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.
Digicel Group Head of Sponsorship, Karl Donnelly, said; “At Digicel, we believe the game of soccer has a unique way of bringing people together and teaching our youth not just about the skills of the beautiful game – but also about valuable life skills like discipline, respect, commitment and teamwork. As such, we are thrilled to be bringing the Digicel Kick Start Clinics back to the Caribbean for a fourth year with John Barnes.
“Not only will the Clinics give hundreds of aspiring young footballers the chance to train and improve, but this year we are very proud to be introducing the Digicel Academy – a first of its kind elite training facility where internationally acclaimed coaches will train the best of the region’s footballing talent.”
The Digicel Kick Start Clinics programme officially kicks 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 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.
