Done deal for Real Madrid soccer school
IT will take approximately US$1 million (J$89m) for the Real Madrid Football School for Social Integration to be up and fully operational, revealed Jesus Silva, the Spanish Ambassador to Jamaica.
The first phase of the school was launched on Monday in Montego Bay, St James, and the official signing of the agreement took place yesterday at the Knutsford Court Hotel in New Kingston.
“The launching of the project is around US$30,000 and the annual budget will be incremented according to the number of coaches and kids that we will be training.
“The running cost will be around US$50,000. The wider project, which has different phases and the future infrastructure, will be up to US$1 million,” Silva told the Observer following the press launch.
“We have calculated the initial step for the programme with 30 kids, but we want to expand it to 50 kids and it could go up to 200 kids,” he added.
The school will be located on lands donated by the Rollins family on the sprawling property of Rose Hall in Montego Bay.
Mark Rollins, whose mother Michelle was instrumental in getting the project off the ground, said his family is proud to be involved.
Said Rollins: “We are honoured to be a part of it. The youths are the future of the country and we want to do everything we can to give them that extra little push.”
Rollins pleaded for further assistant from corporate Jamaica, noting that one of these youngsters might “be the next famous footballer or prime minister”.
Meanwhile, technical director of the school, former Jamaican goalkeeper Aaron Lawrence, saw his dream turn into reality.
“I must say today is a wonderful day for Jamaica’s football. My dream is to see these youth become good ambassadors for Jamaica and their various communities,” said Lawrence.
Former Real Madrid star and national Spanish striker Emilio Butragueno, who represents the Real Madrid School for Social Integration, said they want to give something back.
“Real Madrid is going to do their best to make this project a success. Football is the perfect vehicle to use,” he pointed out.
