Veteran coaches Andrew Price and Ludlow Bernard have said they are pleased with the make-up of the 23-man local-based senior camp that has been assembled by Reggae Boyz Head Coach Heimir Hallgrimsson.

Both coaches have ventured further to express hope that other local-based players will be given the opportunity in the future to parade their talent for senior coaching staff.

The camp squad includes schoolboy Dujuan “Whisper” Richards, who was a standout striker for Kingston College (KC) in last season’s ISSA Manning Cup competition.

The two-day training camp started on Tuesday and will conclude today at the Captain Horace Burrell Centre of Excellence in Mona.

The 17-year-old Richards recorded 29 goals and 19 assists in the Manning Cup and led KC to the semi-finals of the competition.

Price said that is also happy that Richards has been selected in the squad because he has proven himself to be a top-class performer in last season’s schoolboy football competitions, and his selection will send a positive message that this coach believes in the potential of youth.

“It is good to give aspiring players an opportunity to train with the national squad,” he said. “He [Richards] is a player of quality and he has really shown his class during the entire season, and so it is a good opportunity to be among older players, and it gives the coach an opportunity to get a close look at him, so he can be considered in the future, and I hope the next camp they can invite other younger players,” he noted.

Price, a former national assistant coach, said he is happy with the make-up of the squad because this is a step in the right direction for the national prgramme.

“I think that it is a squad of players that the new coaching [staff] wants to look at and that is a good sign. I hope that there are many more of these squads because there are several other players that I believe that the coach should look at,” said Price, who is the head coach of Premier League outfit Humble Lions.

“I think it is a good start because he can look at these players and other players can also get an opportunity, so we can start looking at a cadre of local players to become available for the national programme. So it is a start in the right direction,” he added.

Meanwhile, Bernard, too, backs the new coach for his approach in wanting to open doors for local talent.

“The coach is doing what he has to do and it is a start because, with the squad he has selected, I am sure that the next outing, he will look at some other players,” he said.

“I think that the players that have been called up are capable players that probably could earn a look-in at first, but I am anticipating others to be looked at in the near future,” said Bernard, who is the head coach of JPL champions Harbour View.

“If I was the coach, I would want to see this set and then another set at another time. I am not going to judge anything right now because he will make his determination to see who are the best players whenever he sees everybody,” he ended.

List of invitees — Kemar Foster (Waterhouse FC), Ramone Howell (Waterhouse FC), Ricardo Thomas (Dunbeholden FC), Peter McGregor (Dunbeholden FC), Trivante Stewart (Mount Pleasant FC), Ky-Mani Campbell (Mount Pleasant FC), Demario Phillips (Mount Pleasant FC), Devonte Campbell (Mount Pleasant FC), Jamoi Topey (Mount Pleasant FC), Tafari Chambers (Mount Pleasant FC), Sue-Lae McCalla (Mount Pleasant FC), Alwayne Henry (Mount Pleasant FC), Odane Murray (Mount Pleasant FC), Eric Edwards (Arnett Gardens), Kimani Arbouine (Arnett Gardens), Earl Simpson (Arnett Gardens), Ajuma Johnson (Arnett Gardens), Richard King (Cavaluer SC), Dwayne Atkinson (cavalier SC), Collin Anderson (Cavalier SC), Kyle Ming (Cavalier SC), Jeadine White (Cavalier SC), Gawaine Austin (Portmore United), Oshane Staple (Harbour View FC), Colorado Murray (Harbour View FC), Jahshaun Anglin (Harbour View FC), Nicholas Hamilton (Harbour View FC), Okeemo Jones (Chapleton Maroons), Malachi Douglas (Chapleton Maroons), Dujuan Richards (Phoenix Academy), Jason Wright (Molynes United).