Valencia FC forge football ties with Ja

BY HOWARD WALKER Observer staff reporter walkerh@jamaicaobserver.com

Friday, March 26, 2010

ONE of the most successful and biggest clubs in Spanish football, Valencia FC, is hoping to use Jamaica as a feeding tree as they joined forces with the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF).

Pablo Mantilla, director of Valencia Foundation, the owners of the club, met with JFF boss and FIFA executive Captain Horace Burrell yesterday in a meeting which highlighted endless possibilities.

This will be the first time Valencia will be doing anything of this kind in the CONCACAF region, having previously done so in the United Kingdom.

"Our objectives is not to do a one training camp; we want to make a structure in Jamaica," said Mantilla in stuttering English at the press conference at the Spanish Court Hotel in New Kingston.

"We want to spread the brand of Valencia around the world. This is the first step we make in a long relationship with Jamaica and the JFF.

"Why Jamaica? It is easy. We have felt the response from the kids, coaches, sponsors that it was necessary," Mantilla noted.

He added: "The training camps will be for the kids in the morning and the coaches in the afternoon," he noted.

Victor Salazar Chang, who grew up in Spain of a Jamaican mother and who was instrumental in bringing Valencia to Jamaican shore, said with the present economic financial crunch, Valencia is investing in Jamaica.

"Valencia is developing an academy because of the economic problem in Europe, so Valencia is using Jamaica as a feeding programme," he explained.

Burrell chipped in: "We spoke about that in length. Once the talent is found here they would do everything to have that person in Valencia."

The youth training camp will begin this Saturday with five Spanish coaches conducting procedures alongside Jamaica's Andre Virtue at Sabina Park.

Approximately 100 Jamaican youngsters between the ages of 12 and 18, and 50 local coaches, will get an opportunity at the Next Generation Pro Baller Camp.

Once that is finished on Thursday, three players will be identified and will earn the chance to attend a club camp with Valencia from June 27 to July 3.

"The possibilities are endless; it's a brilliant initiative. We're hoping that this relationship will grow from strength to strength and that Jamaican football will be he winner in the long run," said Burrell.

That relationship could also foster an opportunity an international friendly between the Reggae Boyz and Valencia and at a very long shot, World Cup favourites Spain, according to Burrell.

"There will be other possibilities, maybe a friendly international with Valencia club, or maybe Spain... Reggae Boyz up against Spain," he said.

"There are no promises, but we have begun discussions to make some of these a reality," said Burrell.

Valencia is one of the most successful and biggest clubs in Spanish football. They have won six La Liga titles, seven Copa del Rey trophies, two Fairs Cups -- which was the predecessor to the UEFA Cup -- one UEFA Cup, one UEFA Cup Winners' Cup, two UEFA Super Cups and two Spanish Super Cups.

They have also reached two UEFA Champions League finals in a row, losing to La Liga rivals Real Madrid in 2000 and then German club Bayern Munich in 2001.

In the all-time La Liga table, Valencia are in third position behind Real Madrid and FC Barcelona. In terms of international titles, Valencia are again the third most successful behind Real Madrid and Barcelona -- these three being the only Spanish clubs to have won five or more international trophies.

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Valencia FC forge football ties with Ja