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From www.jamaicaobserver.com
J'can Kick Start selectees await Sunderland trip
BY André Lowe Observer staff reporter lowea@jamaicaobserver.com
Sunday, August 30, 2009
Jamaican teenagers Omar Holness and Paul Wilson have been selected from the Digicel Kick Start Clinic, among other participants from across the region, to strut their stuff in front of coaches at the Sunderland Academy in England next month.
The duo was impressive during Digicel's second staging of the region-wide clinic that pulled together the best Under-16 footballing talents with the promise of a one-week training stint at one the most respected youth set-ups in England.
Fifteen-year-old Holness, who will be entering fourth form at Wolmer's Boys' at the start of the term, is excited at the prospect of securing a place with a professional European outfit and looked back at the difficulties he faced during the Jamaican leg of the clinic, which was spearheaded by former national coach and Liverpool legend John Barnes.
"It (Jamaican clinic) was pretty challenging because all the best players in Jamaica at that level were present. it was very difficult and allowed me to test my abilities against the best in the island, so it was a very good experience overall," said Holness.
Holness, who plays club football for Real Mona as an attacker, said he was thrilled to be selected from the hundreds of regional aspirants and shared his surprise at being informed that he would indeed be a part of the group that travels to England next month.
"I was elated when my friend called me and told me that I was selected; in fact I was very surprised and really happy," stated the well-spoken Holness.
The youngster listed success in England and a positive local schoolboy football season as his objectives for the coming year.
Wilson, a fifth-form student at Glenmuir High, is also delighted to be selected and is looking forward to the experience that awaits him at Sunderland.
The young Portmore United forward said he was encouraged to attend the clinic by coach Jackie Walters and was pleased to be selected after what he described as a difficult selection process.
Said Wilson: "It was difficult because there were some other very good players, but I told myself that I was going out there to just do my best and thankfully, I was selected."
Digicel's sports sponsorship manager, Paula Pinnock-McLeod, underlined the importance of the Kick Start programme and stressed its importance to the telecom company.
"This underlines our commitment and interest in the development of football across the region, as a country. What the Kick Start project does is give these youngsters from across the region [the region] to take their football interest to the next level," said Pinnock-McLeod.
The Kick Start project will see the eight best Under-16 players from the Caribbean train with Sunderland for a week, while the four best talents from the Central American region will train with Liverpool in October, also for a week.
J'can Kick Start selectees await Sunderland trip
BY André Lowe Observer staff reporter lowea@jamaicaobserver.com
Sunday, August 30, 2009
Jamaican teenagers Omar Holness and Paul Wilson have been selected from the Digicel Kick Start Clinic, among other participants from across the region, to strut their stuff in front of coaches at the Sunderland Academy in England next month.
The duo was impressive during Digicel's second staging of the region-wide clinic that pulled together the best Under-16 footballing talents with the promise of a one-week training stint at one the most respected youth set-ups in England.
Fifteen-year-old Holness, who will be entering fourth form at Wolmer's Boys' at the start of the term, is excited at the prospect of securing a place with a professional European outfit and looked back at the difficulties he faced during the Jamaican leg of the clinic, which was spearheaded by former national coach and Liverpool legend John Barnes.
"It (Jamaican clinic) was pretty challenging because all the best players in Jamaica at that level were present. it was very difficult and allowed me to test my abilities against the best in the island, so it was a very good experience overall," said Holness.
Holness, who plays club football for Real Mona as an attacker, said he was thrilled to be selected from the hundreds of regional aspirants and shared his surprise at being informed that he would indeed be a part of the group that travels to England next month.
"I was elated when my friend called me and told me that I was selected; in fact I was very surprised and really happy," stated the well-spoken Holness.
The youngster listed success in England and a positive local schoolboy football season as his objectives for the coming year.
Wilson, a fifth-form student at Glenmuir High, is also delighted to be selected and is looking forward to the experience that awaits him at Sunderland.
The young Portmore United forward said he was encouraged to attend the clinic by coach Jackie Walters and was pleased to be selected after what he described as a difficult selection process.
Said Wilson: "It was difficult because there were some other very good players, but I told myself that I was going out there to just do my best and thankfully, I was selected."
Digicel's sports sponsorship manager, Paula Pinnock-McLeod, underlined the importance of the Kick Start programme and stressed its importance to the telecom company.
"This underlines our commitment and interest in the development of football across the region, as a country. What the Kick Start project does is give these youngsters from across the region [the region] to take their football interest to the next level," said Pinnock-McLeod.
The Kick Start project will see the eight best Under-16 players from the Caribbean train with Sunderland for a week, while the four best talents from the Central American region will train with Liverpool in October, also for a week.