KINGSTON, Jamaica — The Kickstart Academy continues to unearth amazing talent from across the region and, with regional coaches and football aficionados keeping up with the progress of the boys, they shared their thoughts with Digicel Football on what the academy and the Kickstart programme is doing for football in the region.

Being one of the most popular sports in the region, football is a passion for many and is seen as an avenue to improving their lives and fulfilling their dreams. Digicel Group Marketing Operations Director, Kieran Foley, said: “The Kickstart programme is not only helping these 30 youngsters who are attending the academy in Jamaica, but is helping to build the cadre of football talent across the region, as these players will go back to their respective countries at the end of the academy and share what they have learned with their team mates.”

Jamaican youth football coach Neville Bell said: “Kickstart is a fantastic programme, as the youngsters get to train with a big name club as Manchester City FC and being able to learn world-class techniques and strategies from these international coaches is a great opportunity. Even if they don’t get to attend the training camp in Manchester, they would still have benefited from a week of intense training and gained good experience. It is also a good programme as it gives them the chance to rub shoulders with other aspiring young players from across the Caribbean from whom they can learn as well.”

The region’s football powerhouses like Jamaica, are espousing the benefits of the academy and through the constant updates on the boys’ progress at the academy on Digicel social media pages, the LOOP news app and Digicel SportsMax TV, football fans have been keeping abreast of the academy and what the future of football looks like for the region.

President of the Jamaica Football Federation, Captain Horace Burrell said: “Digicel’s commitment and contribution to the development of football across the region is absolutely unparalleled. We have seen this commitment grow and grow since 2004 to the benefit of a number of countries in the Caribbean and Central America. This new partnership with the City Football Group and specifically Manchester City and New York City FC is another milestone in the strategic effort of the company to maximise its contribution to the region’s football programme, especially at the youth and grassroots level.”

He continued: “The Jamaica Football Federation salutes and commends Digicel for the holding of the Kickstart Academy, which is providing opportunities for young footballers from the Caribbean to train under top youth coaches from Manchester City FC. This will no doubt be a valuable and life-changing opportunity for the participants as they will not only learn the technicalities of the game but also invaluable professional skills. I congratulate Digicel for yet another visionary initiative which also exposes the region to the broader linkages that the City Football Group offers. Well done!”