Former national player soon to launch Touchmasters Football Academy
FORMER STVINCENT and the Grenadines footballer, Desmond Morris believes that the Vincentian youth talent football pool can only be harnessed through the establishment of academies.
Hence, he is putting his money where his mouth lies, and will soon launch the Touchmasters Football Academy.
Morris, who has spent over 30 years coaching in the USA, endeavours to see his aspirations come to fruition in the shortest possible time frame. A former defense player, ‘Des’ was one of the trio of the famed Morris brothers who played at the national level before he migrated to the USA in the early 1980’s.
Having observed Vincentian footballers and the overall football set up over the years, Morris has concluded, “We are way behind technically”.
Given his observations, Morris, who holds a National A licence with the US Soccer Federation, believes the young footballers are in need of a controlled setting.
“There is a need for it (an academy) …these kids don’t train for three months uninterrupted so as a result, when are we going to catch up with the rest of the world…”?
Morris sees the academy as providing the building bloc, having the right concept, “the right training and the right curriculum… which is important right now for our kids, because they lack basic things such reception”.
He also cited soft skills that many young Vincentian footballers lack; such things as paying attention in large groups, listening, attention span, and being focused.
“We need to get them in an academy, to get them in an environment to teach them all these things, otherwise allis lost,” Morris concluded.
Pitched for players between the ages of 5 and 17, Morris thinks that the time is right for him to formalize operations here in St Vincent and the Grenadines.
“We have been coming here for about 20 years now, running clinics, giving away stuff to players, have coaching sessions, so we have a good understanding of what is needed to be done and how it can be done”, Morris said.
Hence, the Touchmasters Soccer Training System will be used by Morris to fast track the members of the academy, when it is set up.
Tomorrow, Saturday, September 7, 2024, there will be try outs for prospective players as the Touchmasters Football Academy begins it search for the first set of trainees to be in the Academy.
The try outs take place at the Arnos Vale Two Playing Field, from 9 a.m to 3 p.m. Morris holds a Bachelor of Science Degree, majoring in Physical Education and Spanish and was instrumental in developing the Touchmasters Soccer Training System- TSTS.
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