WITH a renewed focus on the development of special needs athletes, the third staging of the Digicel/Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) Grassroots football clinics kicked off on Saturday at the JFF Football Training Facility at UWI Mona.

This season the Digicel/JFF Grassroots programme will see hundreds of young boys and girls between the ages of six and 11 across Jamaica being taught the fundamentals of the sport through training in the areas of ball control, dribbling, kicking, and team dynamics.

Minister with responsibility for sport, Natalie Neita-Headley, spoke highly about the vision behind supporting programmes like these from the grass-roots phase.

“To attach yourself to the beginning of a programme might not be the most glamorous. People like to attach themselves to the end and to the winning product the winning team and to the winning athlete.

“But those who have the vision to invest in what goes into making that winning product are extraordinary and must be commended,” she said.

President of the JFF Captain Horace Burrell also hailed the telecommunications giant.

“Digicel has looked beyond the borders, realising that this is a part of nation-building. This is why I have so much respect for Digicel, because they have become involved in so many areas of life here in Jamaica that go a far way in helping our youngsters to unearth and build on their God-given talent,” he noted.

Meanwhile, executive director of Special Olympics Jamaica, Lorna Bell, welcomed the inclusion of the Special Olympics football team in this year’s programme.

“This is a big part of the Special Olympics Unified Sports concept and this will definitely go a far way in helping the team prepare for the eighth staging of the Special Olympics Unified Football event, which will be held on November 22,” Bell said.

Customer solutions director at Digicel, Patrick King, expressed delight at the expansion to the special needs athletes.

“Special needs is an area that is very near and dear to the heart of Digicel, so we are delighted to extend this programme to the Special Olympics team.” said King.

Digicel also handed over approximately 2,000 balls to the JFF. Each student who participates will receive a football at the end of the programme to encourage continued practice of the skills they learnt at the clinic.