Xavi Tamarit, the well-regarded UEFA pro-licence coach from Valencia, Spain, believes the development of football across the country is in good hands.

During the past two weeks working with Ballaz Academy, Tamarit said that his primary role was to evaluate and strengthen the academy’s overall philosophy; technical, tactical, and coaching capacities; as well as finalising the eight-year development plan that the academy has been embarking on.

Tamarit’s visit was also a part of the strengthening of the relationship between Ballaz Academy and The Next Generation Sports (TNGS), Valencia, Spain. The two organisations have in place a memorandum of understanding (MOU), which includes coaching development and education, player and coach exchanges, tours, camps, clinics, and workshops.

“It was a very nice experience to be here in Jamaica sharing my time with the kids. I got to understand a little bit better of the culture of Jamaica; the football culture of Jamaica; the capacity they have in general; and the potential they have and so I think it has been a very nice experience for both.

“I think that Andre [Virtue] is a person with a lot of interest as he is always looking for new possibilities, new approaches, and he is a person who never gives up. He is always trying to improve the academy, trying to develop the sport and developing new projects as well.

“I am here helping him, giving my vision, and I think that because I have been for many years a professional football coach Ballaz Academy is under good hands, and I am sure it is going to be a good development for the rest of Jamaica,” Tamarit told the Jamaica Observer during a Digicel-sponsored training session with Ballaz Academy players (between the ages of 10 and 15) at Ballaz Academy on Devon Road in St Andrew on Thursday.

Tamarit, with over 15 years of coaching experience, said that with better playing environments, there’s always the possibility to improve the sport and the players.

“I think in Jamaica you have two very important things for football and one is the love for the sport; the people have a lot of passion for the football, and the other thing is that you have a lot of talent,” he said.

He, however, noted one major drawback.

“The facilities here are not good enough if you compare it with other parts of the world. So I think creating a better environment, you will be able to have better football and better football players,” said Tamarit, who has coached at the professional level in the English Premier League with Southampton FC; in La Liga with Valencia CF, Deportivo Alavés, and CD Leganés; in Greece with Aris FC and Levadiakos FC; and in Argentina with Estudiantes de La Plata, CA Independiente, and Vélez Sarsfield.

Since 2002 Ballaz International has been coaching not just top-class football to young players but also character building in an atmosphere of love and professional excellence.

“It has been a mighty journey; moving back to Jamaica in a development environment is not easy,” said Andre Virtue, the founder and director of Ballaz Academy.

“There’s not a lot of support; not a lot of resources in development but along the journey we have learnt a lot. We have impacted many lives, we have grown as an organisation from August 8, 2022 to where we are at now September 8, 2022.

“We have come across a number of challenges; infrastructures; facilities; access to equipment; access to better coaching and we have seen our impact in the football youth space in where we have seen growth and improvement. We just have to pioneer; we just have to continue doing our part on focusing on the development over the results,” Virtue explained.