The fourth staging of the Next Generation Valencia football camp will again see main sponsor ScotiaBank contributing $2m to conduct the one-week youth training camp.

The camp will take place between July 4-8 under the astute coaching of technical director Andre Virtue, and at least four coaches from the academy of La Liga outfit Valencia FC.

At the end of the Sabina Park-based camp for players aged 7-15, players will be selected and given a chance to train in Spain, arguably the powerhouse of world football at this time.

“This year will be no different than over the years and we will be continuing our commitment of youth development and I am hoping what we have started some three years ago to continue set the tone and give opportunities to young players to experience quality coaching from our coaches coming from Valencia,” said Virtue.

“We see it as a very important opportunity for us to continue this tremendous programme that we are doing,” he added.

Simone Walker, Scotia’s director of marketing programmes, handed over her company’s symbolic cheque of $2m to two previous scholarship recipients — Martin Davis and Luca Levee.

“Scotiabank is pleased to be the presenting sponsor this year as we continue our support of the Valencia football programme. We are very excited about the results we have seen and its effectiveness,” said Walker.

“The high level of excitement that has been generated at this time and I can tell you that a camp of this nature is something that youngsters and parents look forward to every summer,” she noted.

The camp for children aged 7-11 and 12-15 will be five days of intensive sessions focusing on ball possession; space management; transition (offensive and defensive); game intelligence and goalkeeping from Valencia training models.

The camp will be for the more advanced players that represent their schools or clubs and it will cost $16,500 for persons who are interested. Contact can be made to The Ballaz Club House at 260-2255.

Meanwhile, Captain Horace Burrell, president of the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF), is in full support of the camp he doubted a few years ago.

“When I heard about this initiative a few years ago I really wondered if it would work. But really looking at the level of dedication and commitment given to this programme I have no doubt at all,” said Burrell.

“This programme has been going extremely well and again I can’t thank the organisers of the next generation for the work they have done. It is not easy,” he added.

Spanish Ambassador to Jamaica, Celsa Nuno Garcia, still licking her wounds from Brazil’s 3-0 demolition of Spain in Sunday’s FIFA Confederations Cup, reiterated that her country remain a world power and remains the favourite for the World Cup.

“The camp has been a successful experience despite the difficult financial context that speaks for itself. Additionally we have seen the experience grow and expand to other countries…and possible one day opening a permanent academy in Jamaica,” said Garcia.

To date, the camp has selected eight scholarship winners to journey to Spain for the one-week training session at Velencia.

Davis and Levee have impressed at Valencia and earned call backs are still training in Spain. Davis, formerly of St George’s College, is with Levante, while Campion College’s Levee is at Huracan Valencia.

Both players are currently apart of Jamaica’s Under-17 squad that failed to qualify for the World Cup in April and they shared their views on life in Spain.

Said Levee: “This is the most professional team I have been into. The training is serious as every day the coaches come with a piece of paper with all the names. They are very organised. We work different things, practical, technical and for fitness we never run without the ball”.

Said Davis: “It’s a good experience learning a different culture. As a player I have learnt a lot and my knowledge of the game has improved.”