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Karl
Senior Member
USA
914 Posts |
 Posted - Jan 10 2005 : 08:55:08 AM
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Football academy for Munro College
published: Monday | January 10, 2005
Nodley Wright- Freelance Writer
JAMAICA'S MUCH-TALKED about football academy has finally found a home. Munro College, The Gleaner was reliably informed, was chosen ahead of G.C. Foster Sports College at a meeting of the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) executive on Saturday.
Munro's selection was confirmed by JFF President Crenston Boxhill.
"It is all but finalised. It has been formally approved by the school board but we are still to come to an agreement with the trustees," Boxhill told The Gleaner last night.
Ground was broken by FIFA President Sepp Blatter for the training centre to be financed with US$400,000 or about ($24 million) from the FIFA Goal Project weeks before the last JFF elections in late 2003 at a site in the densely-populated Portmore, which was considered inappropriate by many.
Since being in office, among the sites said to be considered for the academy was the University of the West Indies, before it was narrowed down to Munro College in the hills of St. Elizabeth and G.C. Foster on the flatlands of St. Catherine.
SOME INFRASTRUCTURE IN PLACE
Among the things that swung the decision in Munro's favour, according to the source, was the vast expanse of land and the already 11 football fields in place. While all are not in top shape, improving them would not be too costly.
Munro College's rural setting and absence of distraction also came into play. The availability of water for construction and to keep the fields properly watered will not be a problem at Munro College as there is a good catchment system in place.
Climatic conditions at Munro are also a plus. The school, which is located in Malvern, has a cool dry climate that facilitates training at any time of the day all year round.
It is also thought that while the JFF will have to construct its own dormitories, it would be granted access to the classrooms at the school which would relieve them of the headache of employing tutors for the pupils of the academy.
If the academy is hosting girls, then Hampton High School is not far away. There are also schools close by such as St. Elizabeth Technical, B.B. Coke High School (Junction) for those with a technical leaning.
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Karl |
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Site of Jamaica's Football Academy
