Digicel Kick Start Clinics Footballers Depart For Sunderland

Eight young footballers from the Caribbean and Central America – who were selected by England and Liverpool football legend, John Barnes, from the Digicel Kick Start Clinics 2010 – today departed from Piarco International Airport in Trinidad for Sunderland AFC’s Academy of Light, where they will spend one week training with some of the best coaches in the Barclay’s Premier League. 

As the boys set off on their trip, Vice President of FIFA and President of both CONCACAF and the Caribbean Football Union, Jack Warner, wished them the best of luck and said; “I am a great supporter of Digicel’s efforts in supporting the development of football across the Caribbean and Central America. 

“The Digicel Kick Start Clinics are a fantastic initiative and with Sunderland on board for the third consecutive year, it is a marvellous opportunity for aspiring young footballers to get the chance to train with a Barclay’s Premier League Club and showcase their skills on the international stage. 

“The Barclay’s Premier League is the highest-ranked football league in Europe and purportedly the richest and most watched football league in the world, so there is nowhere better for these boys to gain experience and develop their talents.

“I wish all of the young footballers the very best of luck and I hope they make the most of this exciting opportunity,” he continued.  

Matthew Woo Ling from Trinidad & Tobago; Vidal Gonzalez and Fernando Meneses from Panama; Jose Villavicencio, Bryan Landaverde and Alvaro Lizama from El Salvador; and Julio Oliva and German Mejia from Honduras were the eight most talented footballers selected by John Barnes from the Digicel Kick Start Clinics.

The Clinics – which kicked off on July 20th in Trinidad & Tobago, before moving on to Panama, El Salvador and Honduras – saw 150 talented young footballers receive expert coaching in the beautiful game. 

Digicel has been involved in a wide range of football initiatives designed to support the development of football in the Caribbean and Central America over the last six years. Digicel, which has operations in 32 countries worldwide, sponsors 17 Football Federations and Leagues, as well as the Digicel Caribbean Cup and the Copa de Naciones Digicel in Central America.