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No work on proposed MoBay football academy after 2 years
By Andre Lowe, Observer staff reporter lowea@jamaicaobserver.com
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Two years after the announcement by the director general of the Real Madrid Football Club Academy Carlos Abella to construct a football academy on Jamaica's north coast, the ball is yet to get rolling on the proposed US$200,000-US$300,000 project.
Despite the fanfare that met the declaration of the Spanish football giant's intention to erect the first training academy outside of a Spanish-speaking country, the building plans for the project slated for Montego Bay was only approved by the St James Parish Council a week ago, and work is yet to start at the site.
Former national goalkeeper Aaron Lawrence, the man charged with managing the academy's day to day affairs if it finally becomes a reality, had travelled to Spain in June 2008 to meet with club officials in an effort to ironing out the details of the project.
Lawrence told the Observer in an exclusive interview that the wait continues for the arrival of the funds from the financiers. A meeting, he claims, is scheduled for later this month at which point the budget will be discussed.
"No funds have come in as yet as such. we are supposed to have a meeting with the Spanish-Jamaica Foundation where I'm expecting that we will be looking at how much funding is now needed," said Lawrence.
It is further understood that preparatory work - including the levelling of lands to be used as football fields - is being held up by the unavailability of equipment.
"We are waiting on some backhoes so we can level the land and start some work, but they are all booked out now. They (backhoes) are being used to do some road work. That work is supposed to be completed in a short while so we will be able to really start phase one of the project afterwards," explained Lawrence, a France World Cup veteran.
Funds for the academy, which is to be erected on lands donated by Montego Bay philanthropist Michele Rollins, were announced to come from Spanish investors in Jamaica such as Iberostar, Bahia Principe, RIU and Palladium Hotel.
Lawrence is hoping that work can be completed before the end of the year so that the facility - geared towards facilitating the football development of 7-15- year-old boys and girls from the parishes of St James, Trelawny, Westmoreland and Hanover - can commence operation early 2010.
"We are not really working with a deadline at this stage, but we are hoping to finish by the end of the year and start operation by next year," said Lawrence.
Phase one of the project will see the construction of at least one football field, changing facilities, an administrative area and kitchen.
A noted landscaper, who reportedly has experience creating a number of golf courses in the tourist hot spot of Montego Bay, will develop the football field.
Lawrence pointed out that the excitement around the project is still high and everyone is looking forward to its completion.
"The excitement is still high, a lot of people have been calling to find out what is happening and everybody wants to see it up and running, but we just have to be patient," he concluded.
http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/sport...REAL__DEAL.asp
By Andre Lowe, Observer staff reporter lowea@jamaicaobserver.com
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Two years after the announcement by the director general of the Real Madrid Football Club Academy Carlos Abella to construct a football academy on Jamaica's north coast, the ball is yet to get rolling on the proposed US$200,000-US$300,000 project.
Despite the fanfare that met the declaration of the Spanish football giant's intention to erect the first training academy outside of a Spanish-speaking country, the building plans for the project slated for Montego Bay was only approved by the St James Parish Council a week ago, and work is yet to start at the site.
Former national goalkeeper Aaron Lawrence, the man charged with managing the academy's day to day affairs if it finally becomes a reality, had travelled to Spain in June 2008 to meet with club officials in an effort to ironing out the details of the project.
Lawrence told the Observer in an exclusive interview that the wait continues for the arrival of the funds from the financiers. A meeting, he claims, is scheduled for later this month at which point the budget will be discussed.
"No funds have come in as yet as such. we are supposed to have a meeting with the Spanish-Jamaica Foundation where I'm expecting that we will be looking at how much funding is now needed," said Lawrence.
It is further understood that preparatory work - including the levelling of lands to be used as football fields - is being held up by the unavailability of equipment.
"We are waiting on some backhoes so we can level the land and start some work, but they are all booked out now. They (backhoes) are being used to do some road work. That work is supposed to be completed in a short while so we will be able to really start phase one of the project afterwards," explained Lawrence, a France World Cup veteran.
Funds for the academy, which is to be erected on lands donated by Montego Bay philanthropist Michele Rollins, were announced to come from Spanish investors in Jamaica such as Iberostar, Bahia Principe, RIU and Palladium Hotel.
Lawrence is hoping that work can be completed before the end of the year so that the facility - geared towards facilitating the football development of 7-15- year-old boys and girls from the parishes of St James, Trelawny, Westmoreland and Hanover - can commence operation early 2010.
"We are not really working with a deadline at this stage, but we are hoping to finish by the end of the year and start operation by next year," said Lawrence.
Phase one of the project will see the construction of at least one football field, changing facilities, an administrative area and kitchen.
A noted landscaper, who reportedly has experience creating a number of golf courses in the tourist hot spot of Montego Bay, will develop the football field.
Lawrence pointed out that the excitement around the project is still high and everyone is looking forward to its completion.
"The excitement is still high, a lot of people have been calling to find out what is happening and everybody wants to see it up and running, but we just have to be patient," he concluded.
http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/sport...REAL__DEAL.asp
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