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Chairman Niall Quinn Encouraged by Level of Talent From the Digicel Kick Start Football Clinics

Kingston, February 20, 2008 – England Premier League Club, Sunderland AFC is eagerly awaiting the imminent arrival of the six Caribbean U20 footballers who will be spending a week at the Premier League club’s Academy of Light following the conclusion and final selection of the Digicel Kick Start Football Clinics in Jamaica.

Speaking from Sunderland, Club Chairman and former Irish International star, Niall Quinn, said, “This is a great opportunity for young footballers in the Caribbean to have a chance to experience life at a Premier League Academy. The six players chosen from the clinics will work with the youth team at Sunderland and see what is needed in order to try and make their dream of playing in the English Premier League a reality in the future.

Sunderland Academy Manager Ged McNamee added, “Given the feedback we have received, we are all looking forward to meeting the players and see them perform. Being involved in the Digicel Kick Start Football Clinic has also helped us to strengthen our Caribbean connections that we have been building over the past number of years through players like Kenwyne Jones, Carlos Edwards and Dwight Yorke.”

The level of talent at each of the eight Digicel Clinics has far exceeded original expectations with strong contenders in each of the countries the Digicel Clinics has visited. The Digicel clinics Caribbean tour, which ended on Saturday February 16, visited eight countries in the region: Guyana, Haiti, Barbados, St. Kitts, Antigua & Barbuda, Suriname, Trinidad & Tobago and Jamaica.

On Saturday February 23, Digicel Clinics’ Head Coach John Barnes will announce the select six chosen to train at Sunderland AFC’s Academy of Light for one week in March 2008. The announcement will take place in Kingston, Jamaica and will be attended by CFU President, Jack Warner and Digicel Group CEO, Colm Delves.