GRENADA BOYS SHOWCASE THEIR TALENT AT THE DIGICEL KICKSTART CLINICS ( - Chelsea FC Coaches praise hardworking footballers )

Tuesday 7^th April 2015 – Kingston, Jamaica

The Digicel Kickstart Clinics continues to unearth the best footballing talent the Caribbean has to offer as the Chelsea FC Foundation Coaches stopped on the ‘Spice Isle’ of Grenada, to train with the aspiring young footballers – who proved to be athletic and hardworking players.

Training techniques learned by the players at the Digicel Kickstart Clinics enhance their speed and agility

The Digicel Kickstart Clinic is providing an opportunity for aspiring young footballers to showcase their talents and get training from Chelsea FC coaches

The Chelsea FC Foundation coaches lauded the Grenada Football Association (GFA) for its unwavering support of the Kickstart programme and that it is doing all the right things as it relates to developing Grenada’s youth players. Chelsea FC Foundation Senior International Football Development Officer and Digicel Kickstart Clinics Head Coach, David Monk, said; “We have always appreciated the support from the GFA in selecting a group of youngsters to participate in the Clinics who always give their best during the training sessions. The boys were very athletic and worked hard throughout which is a key element on a team as you need players who will be able to keep possession of the ball during the game.”

At the end of the two-day Clinics, the coaches selected 15 year old Josh Gabriel, 15 year old Zarrel Phillip and 15 year old Rahim Benjamin as the top three players who will represent Grenada at the 2015 Digicel Academy. Also selected as the Wild Card pick was 14 year old Zion St. Cry.

Digicel Kickstart Head Coach, David Monk, directs players during a training session held recently in Grenada

The local coaches were encouraged to inspire the young footballers to consider coaching as another avenue to grow and develop their talents

He also recommended that more players should view coaching as an avenue to further their careers in football, he said; “There is still a lot more improvements to be made as it relates to helping the boys achieve their full potential as players. However, they should also consider coaching as another way to grow in the sport. We believe this thinking can be promoted even more with the implementation of coach mentorship programmes.

He concluded by saying; “These programmes will not only build interest and – hopefully a desire – in players to aspire to become coaches themselves but will also help to encourage seasoned coaches to pass down their knowledge and expertise to the younger ones who will then share their own experiences as players with their charges as they can relate more closely with the style of football that is being played now – which sees players being more creative, attacking, able to solve problems on the pitch and breaking down the opponent’s defensive line with flair.”

ENDS

ABOUT DIGICEL

Digicel Group is a leading global communications provider with operations in 33 markets in the Caribbean, Central America and Asia Pacific. After almost 14 years of operation, total investment to date stands at over US$5 billion worldwide. The company is renowned for delivering best value, best service and best network.

Digicel is the lead sponsor of Caribbean, Central American and Pacific sports teams, including the Special Olympics teams throughout these regions. Digicel sponsors the West Indies cricket team and is also the presenting partner of the Caribbean Premier League. In the Pacific, Digicel is the proud sponsor of several national rugby teams and also sponsors the Vanuatu cricket team.

Digicel also runs a host of community-based initiatives across its markets and has set up Digicel Foundations in Haiti, Jamaica, Papua New Guinea and Trinidad and Tobago which focus on educational, cultural and social development programmes.

Visit www.digicelgroup.com for more information.