Ken-I gets big call up

Vincentian Kendall “Ken-I” Velox recently got a call up that he never expected. Velox was selected as one of three coaches in his adopted home of Trinidad and Tobago for the Digicel Kick Start Clinic held there last Tuesday and Wednesday.{{more}}

The two-day clinic was conducted by Jamaican-born John Barnes, who is a former English international footballer.

Velox, along with Reynold Carrington and Dean Pacheco, was selected to oversee the twenty three young hopefuls drawn from the Pro League clubs.

Velox, in a telephone interview with SEARCHLIGHT last Tuesday morning, expressed delight and honour at being chosen from a large pool of coaches currently serving the Trinidad and Tobago pro league.

A former St. Vincent and the Grenadines international footballer, Velox, who retired from national duties in 2008, after 18 years of national representation, is presently the Assistant Coach at AIA Caledonia’s reserve team and coach of the club’s Under-18 outfit.

The diminutive midfielder, who spent twelve years as a professional footballer, rounded off his stint last December at the end of the Trinidad and Tobago pro league.

Known as “Shortman” in the twin island republic, Velox’s career there has seen him representing clubs Joe Public, AIA Caledonia and North Stars. Velox also had a one year stint in Lebanon with Al- Nejimeh.

The Trinidad and Tobago clinic was the only one to be held in the English-speaking Caribbean this time around. The clinics will continue in Panama July 24 and 25, after which they move to El Salvador July 28 and 29, and Honduras on August 4, 5 and 6.

Barnes, a former Jamaica national coach, will then announce the eight selected players who will go to England for a seven-day stint at the Sunderland AFC Academy from August 23 to 29. (RT)