WITH the launch of their Elite Under-17 Development Football Programme last month, Professional Football Jamaica Limited’s (PFJL) Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Owen Hill says he’s hoping it will help the country sell more of its promising stars to top clubs around the world.

The three-month initiative, organised by PFJL and title sponsors Malta, addresses the holistic development of players, coaches and administrators. Arnett Gardens FC, Harbour View FC, Waterhouse FC, and Portmore United are the four clubs currently benefiting from the programme.

High-profile clubs in world football have spent billions of dollars signing youth players from countries around the globe. European giants Real Madrid, for example, recently signed Brazilian teenager Endrick from Palmeiras for a reported figure equivalent to $9.9 billion. Chelsea, Manchester United, Barcelona and PSG have also made big-money signings for youth players in recent years.

Hill is hoping the development programme will help young Jamaican stars attract lucrative transfer fees.

“When you look at what is happening globally, the maximised potential of the talent for sale is between a certain age, so if you’re too old or beyond a certain age — which is about 23 — then your market value becomes a little lower, and if you’re too young you’re just giving away the talent,” he said.

“What we’re looking at is that sweet spot. And what is that for us as a developing country? We need to be very clear. We know where our best age range players are and we want to lower it, so we want 16- and 17-year-olds becoming superstars earlier and going on and earning in real ways. Other people will then see that and want to become pro athletes earlier, so hopefully a programme like this will kick-start that initiative,” Hill added.

A long-standing criticism is that not enough young players were being given the opportunity by clubs to play in the Jamaica Premier League, with recently crowned champions Cavalier being cited as the standard-bearers in terms of exposing up-and-coming talent.

Hill, though, says he has seen a shift from some teams in the breakthrough afforded the likes of Arnett Gardens’ Kaheim Dixon, Mount Pleasant Football Academy’s Devonte Campbell, and Tivoli Gardens’ Justin Dunn, who have gone on to represent the Reggae Boyz this year.

He also believes an improvement in coaching education as well as players’ attitudes will lead to a more youthful league.

“When the coaches are educated and consistently engaged I think their mindset will be changed [in terms of] their approach, their tactical awareness, how they assemble squads and develop players. So, the better coaches we have I think the more opportunities will be granted to youth players,” he said.

“However, youth players also need to step up. Coaches are judged on win percentages so if youth players are not assimilating to the senior team play then it’s going to be difficult to play them. So, I think it’s twofold: The players should get better and should be exposed, because once you give them the exposure and trust and believe in them, they will generally come through. But when you have better coaches helping them along the curve I think it augurs well for the overall development.”

With the programme being a pilot, Hill does not anticipate immediate long-term changes but says it’s a beneficial first step in the development of the sport.

“We don’t expect it in year one but we need to start and continuously improve. It’s very important to stress-test what we’re talking about but [also] look at ways we can improve it while also doing it. It’s easy to look forward, plan ahead, and put things on paper but we actually have to do it. This gives us a good launching pad and then, from here, we can review it and determine the areas of improvement.”

The four teams involved in the competition are expected to play in a mini tournament on Saturday, June 29 at UWI-JFF Captain Horace Burrell Centre of Excellence.