La Liga club for J'can coaching camp

EUROPEAN-style football is among the world's most popular, while Spain is the top-ranked country. For one week in March, 100 Jamaican youngsters and 50 local coaches will get an opportunity to experience a little of both at the Next Generation Pro Baller Camp.

Five coaches from the Spain-based Valencia Football Club Foundation will conduct the camp at Sabina Park from March 28 to April 1.

Valencia is the third-ranked club in Spain's top flight La Liga, behind Barcelona and Real Madrid, and has claimed a slew of titles, including seven Copa Del Reys and the Spanish Super Cup, twice.

The camp will be aimed at players 12 to 18 years. Forty players will be selected from the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) programmes, 15 from the national female programme, 10 through a CLARO-sponsored islandwide event, and 35 from public high schools and clubs.

The coaches must be active in the target age group, be able to provide two references and will be chosen on a first come, first serve basis.

Former national player Andre Virtue will be the camp's technical director and will also help to choose the players who will benefit.

"I know the JFF and youth football on a whole will benefit from such a collaboration," Virtue told the Observer, adding that the aim is to identify and enhance the technique of local players with potential.

Three of those players will earn the chance to attend a club camp with Valencia from June 27 to July 3.

National coaches Dean Weatherly, Wendell Downswell, Patrick Walters and Leebert Halliman are the other evaluators.

Valencia-born Jamaican, Victor Salazar-Chang, was instrumental in organising the camp, which will run for the next three years.

"I thought it would be instructive to bring in some coaches from Valencia because our exposure to Spanish football is limited," he told the Observer.

Top Valencia players including David Villa and David Silva will be involved in league matches and Spain's FIFA World Cup effort during camp time, but Salazar-Chang hopes after the July event in South Africa they might be able to travel to Jamaica for further assistance.

"We're hoping after the World Cup some of the top players will come down and do some interactions with our future partners, the JFF, schools and sponsors," he said.

"You're going to see a lot of things from our side in the next three years," Salazar-Chang stated.

  0 comments

  0 comments

  0 comments

  0 comments

  0 comments

  0 comments

  0 comments

  0 comments

  0 comments

  0 comments

  0 comments

  0 comments

  0 comments

  0 comments

  0 comments

  0 comments

  0 comments

  0 comments

  0 comments

  0 comments