Veteran US Soccer Development Academy (SDA) coach Jamaican-born Larry Allen believes that if Jamaica’s football is to be more successful, then more players will have to be introduced to the game at a younger age.

“The key to why Jamaica is having so many problems is that they start with the youth at too late an age,” Allen argued.

And noting that the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) is doing a “tremendous job”, the former Wolmer’s Boys’ School Manning Cup player cited the need for others to assist the federation.

“I believe we need to start from the bottom and I can’t sit around and wait for others to come on board. Everybody must play their part and help the JFF in Jamaica,” said Allen, who recently established the Jamaica Youth Football Academy Limited. The academy has so far selected 36 boys from Trelawny for a major football training programme.

The programme is expected to kick-off at the Elleston Wakeland Sports Complex at the end of this month.

The young players will be conditioned by former National striker Cassman Williams.

According to Allen, the players were selected in April from among 300 boys during trials across Trelawny conducted by other coaches, including Colombian Louis Carlos Parea, Nelson Valenzuela of Guatemala and Trinidadian Carl Pukchan.

Two weeks ago, the selectees, divided into two groups, an Under-10 and an Under-12, ended a “mini two-week training stint” conducted by Allen at the Elleston Wakeland Sports Complex in Falmouth.

Allen told the Jamaica Observer West that in addition to Trelawny, his ultimately goal is to establish academies in the parishes of St Mary, St Elizabeth and St Catherine.

Meanwhile, Coral Gentles, co-ordinator of Jamaica Youth Football Academy Limited, who is also treasurer of the Trelawny Football Association (TFA) expressed that the TFA will support the academy.

“I think the TFA will be fully on board in due process. I think we are gradually getting the feel of what is happening and we look forward to having a working relationship,” said Gentles.