Four Vincentians to benefit in this year’s Chelsea Digicel Kickstart Academy

Four young Vincentian footballers will this year benefit from the teachings of former Chelsea FC and Portugal star Paulo Ferreira, who is this year taking part in the Chelsea Digicel Kickstart Academy.{{more}}

Jahvan Peters, Derron Rouse, Azara Dennie and Kewon Clarke (wild card who won with 1,062 points) were chosen earlier this year to take part in the 2014 Digicel Kickstart Academy after they performed exceptionally well at the local leg of the Digicel Kickstart clinic.

The four players will travel to Jamaica today, Friday, October 24 and return on November 3 from the Digicel Chelsea Kickstart Academy in Jamaica.

On Wednesday, Marketing executive at Digicel Danielle Cupid, who will be travelling with the athletes, said, “they are really looking forward to the experience and anticipating the kind of training they will be receiving.”

While there, the boys, who will train with other players from all over the Caribbean, will receive training in attacking, defending, aerobics, breaking down teams, finishing, set plays and tactics.

Meanwhile, the 2014 Digicel Kickstart Academy is set to raise the bar even higher this year, with the announcement that Paulo Ferreira (former Chelsea FC and Portugal footballing hero) will be a part of the programme.

Ferreira, who played as a defender for Chelsea FC for nine years during which time they accumulated a number of trophies, including the Champions League and English Premier League titles, will share valuable knowledge with the aspiring young footballers participating in the Academy.

Expressing his excitement at being a part of the Digicel Kickstart Academy, Ferreira said, “It’s a real thrill for me to be travelling to Jamaica for the Digicel Kickstart Academy and to meet some of the best young footballers in the region. In my career, I have been a part of many successful teams and have experienced the game at the very top level.”

He added that the Chelsea Foundation has successfully worked with Digicel to create a clear development pathway for these young players and also for coaches across the region, while this will ensure the next generation of footballers has an increased opportunity to progress onto the next level.

“I also know what it is like to be a young footballer with a dream and I hope that I can help the Academy footballers to realize their potential by sharing some of my experiences,” Ferreira said.

Digicel has been investing in youth football development since 2007, through the Digicel Kickstart programme with world class partner, Chelsea FC Foundation.

Another first for the Digicel Academy is that this year it will be held in Jamaica at the Sabina Park.

Last year, Deno John, Jowan Sawyers and Kyle Edwards earned themselves the week’s placing at the Digicel Chelsea Academy in Barbados.