PAULO FERREIRA ENCOURAGES DIGICEL KICKSTART ACADEMY PLAYERS TO CHASE THEIR DREAMS ( - Chelsea FC and Portugal legend shares his football experience with the boys at the Digicel Kickstart Academy )

Tuesday 28^th October 2014 – Kingston, Jamaica

Chelsea FC and Portugal footballing star, Paulo Ferreira, speaks to the players on the first day of the Digicel Kickstart Academy

Chelsea FC and Portugal footballing star, Paulo Ferreira, on his first visit to Jamaica spoke to the boys at the Digicel Kickstart Academy where he encouraged them to make the most of the opportunity and to do their best.

He encouraged them to stay focused and to take in as much as they can by saying; “Listen to your coaches, they are very good and will help you to improve your game. Also, make sure that you never give up, keep chasing your dreams. I remember watching my favourite players on the television in my village and saying one day that I would like to be playing at that level. So keep working hard and you can achieve greatness.” 

Paulo Ferreira has a bit of fun while playing a game of juggling during his visit at the Digicel Kickstart Academy

Paulo Ferreira was on island for the start of the Digicel Kickstart Academy which is being hosted in Jamaica for the first time. At the first training session, he shared his experience playing for Chelsea FC as well as some of the highlights of his career, including winning the Champions League title with Chelsea FC in 2011 as well as making it to the finals of the European Championships with the Portugal national football team in 2004. The boys were very excited to meet the two-time Champions League winner and got a chance to ask him questions – which he was more than happy to answer – much to their delight. 

Digicel Group Head of Sponsorship, James Wynne, said; “We are happy to have Paulo Ferreira and the Chelsea FC Foundation coaches here at the Kickstart Academy and I am sure the boys enjoyed meeting such a legendary player. Digicel continues to help to develop football at the grassroots level because we believe this will help to start them on the path to a possible professional career. Today’s professional players started out at grassroots clubs and were scouted from there and as such, we are developing young players technically at the earliest possible opportunity through the Digicel Kickstart programme.”

Team photo of the boys and Paulo Ferreira along with Digicel Jamaica CEO, Barry O’Brien

The Digicel Kickstart Academy sees 42 boys from across the Caribbean and Central America go through a week of intense training that will culminate in a final match between the Academy players and the Jamaica National under-16 team. This is the first time that the Digicel Kickstart Academy has been held in Jamaica at the historic Sabina Park – an important sporting venue in the region which is known for hosting world class cricket matches. During the Academy, it will play host to some of the brightest young footballing talents the region has to offer.

For more information please visit www.digicelfootball.com 

Paulo Ferreira and Digicel Jamaica CEO, Barry O’Brien, ask Digicel Kickstart Academy finalists and Jamaican schoolboy football stars, Jeremy Verley and Alex Marshall, about their first day of training

ENDS

ABOUT DIGICEL GROUP 

Digicel Group Limited is a leading global communications provider with operations in 32 markets in the Caribbean, Central America and Asia Pacific. After 13 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 runs a host of community-based initiatives across its markets and has set up Digicel Foundations in Jamaica, Haiti, Papua New Guinea and Trinidad and Tobago which focus on educational, cultural and social development programmes.

Digicel is the lead sponsor of Caribbean, Central American and Pacific sports teams and individuals including the world’s fastest man, Usain Bolt and Special Olympics teams throughout these regions. Digicel also sponsors the West Indies cricket team.  

Digicel is incorporated in Bermuda and its markets comprise: Anguilla, Antigua & Barbuda, Aruba, Barbados, Bermuda, Bonaire, the British Virgin Islands, the Cayman Islands, Curacao, Dominica, El Salvador, Fiji, French Guiana, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Martinique, Myanmar Nauru, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, St. Kitts & Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent & the Grenadines, Suriname, Tonga, Trinidad & Tobago, Turks & Caicos and Vanuatu. Digicel also has coverage in St. Martin and St. Barts in the Caribbean. 

Visit www.digicelgroup.com for more information.