Burke seeks to revitalise Talent Squad Programme

Saturday, November 21, 2009 7:01 PM

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Friday, July 03, 2009

National technical director and co-ordinator Douglas Burke will seek to revitalise the Talent Squad Training Programme, focusing especially on girls, all over Jamaica.

"We've had the Talent Squad Training Programme over the years periodically and at different times in different places, where we identify the talented juniors in the different areas of Jamaica and have them in sustained training programmes under the guidance of coaches that we appoint.

"Clearly that programme needs funding, a sponsor to keep that programme going. What it means is that kids whether they are in Mandeville, Ocho Rios, Runaway Bay or Montego Bay can be assured that they will be having quality training wherever they are," said Burke.

Burke, who had been paying attention to the U-12 players yesterday to assess their skill, noted that he would concentrate on the young girls.

"Certainly the schools programme for the 11 and under, we want to focus on the girls and it will require substantial funding, millions of dollars a year, but it is a very attractive programme, a far-reaching programme that will give visibility to sponsors because it spreads. It's on-going and long-term and geared at development," he emphasised.

"We had the talent squad here in Kingston for a while where the top kids play together. We had it in Montego Bay as well and asked some of our leading coaches down there to do it, and we've had it Montego Bay, Ocho Rios and Runaway.

"It's not to take away kids from their coaches and the programme they have; it's a bonus to allow the better kids to get additional training and play with each other and spur each other on to improve," he said.

- PB