For the first time ever in the Cayman Islands, an English professional youth football academy will play three exhibition games against Cayman’s most talented youngsters, starting this weekend.
Swindon Town Football Club’s Under-13 squad, complete with local youngster Sebastian Martinez, will arrive from England on Saturday. Swindon play Academy Sporting Club on Sunday at 5pm at the TE McField Annex Field in George Town, a West Bay Select on Tuesday 14 February at 6pm at the Ed Bush Field in West Bay and a Bodden Town Select on Thursday 16 February 6pm at the Annex Field.
On Monday 13 February the Swindon Town youth coaches will conduct a training session with local players involved in the recently formed All-Primary Football Programme at 6pm at the TE McField Annex field.
In between playing and training, the visitors will enjoy a few cultural events such as diving with the stingrays at Stingray City and visiting the Cayman Turtle Farm as well as taking in the sun, sand, surf and sampling local cuisine.
This visit was made possible by a host of sponsors and generous contributors including the Ministry of Health, Environment, Youth, Sports and Culture, the West Bay Sports Foundation, the Cayman Islands Football Association, Caribbean Utilities Company, onetreefourfive.com, Small’s Construction, McAlpine, Walkers, Premier McKeeva Bush, Maples and Calder, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Hew’s Cleaning Services, Wayne Panton, Fabri-Zone Cleaning Systems, PBP&J Development Company, Fire Pros, Dale Crighton, Paddington Warehouses, PLH Construction, Foster’s Food Fair, Bodden Beverages and Admiral Administration.
Other sponsors are the Department of Tourism, Tours Cayman, Bayside Watersports, Marriot Resort, The Security Centre, Frank Hall Homes, Reid’s Premier Tours, Construction Development Associates, Subway and Reflections.
Swindon Town’s visit has all the makings of a truly historic event where a lasting relationship with a professional club and its coaches can be realised and positive steps can finally be taken to improve the country’s floundering youth programme.
Organisers hope that by hosting Swindon Town’s youngsters and observing their training sessions and play during the games, it will give the local players a sense of what is required to make the grade at youth academies and schools overseas and ultimately follow in the footsteps of 13-year-old Martinez.
Ardin Rivers is the founder of the West Bay Sports Foundation. He said: “By having a local boy in the Swindon Town academy system, it proves that the youth system in the Cayman Islands, particularly at the primary school level (Under 9 and 11), has the potential to develop into something very meaningful. This should be, after all, the breeding ground for the future junior and senior national football teams.”
Martinez’s qualities on and off the field were what impressed Swindon’s coaching and technical staff. These qualities did not evolve overnight but instead were nurtured over a period of time with the support of his family, friends and coaches and his involvement and progression through the Under 9 and 11 Primary Football League systems and the Under 13 league.
“These qualities are what must be instilled in Cayman’s youngsters currently involved in the youth game and the Swindon Town visit is just one of the many avenues to be utilized to make this change happen,” said Rivers.
The parents and coaches must be taught to be encouraging and positive with the youngsters reinforcing the good aspects of their game and working diligently to correct their weaknesses.
With the financial support from the West Bay Sports Foundation, the Government and the various sponsors that have made this tour possible, it proves that there are many individuals and companies who have not given up on the youngsters and potentially see a means of re-establishing the country’s football programme back to its previous heights.
However, the Government and the football association cannot solely be relied on to make things right, but collectively parents, coaches, supporters and sponsors, need to take necessary action to ensure that this generation of youngsters get the opportunities to improve their football skills and ultimately get the chance to either play at an academy such as Swindon Town’s in Europe or gain athletic and academic scholarships to high schools and eventually universities in the United States.
In comparison to other football-oriented nations in the Caribbean and around the world, the Cayman Islands has a tiny base of players to select from and if the country is to again compete on the international stage and ultimately elevate standards, the focus must be directed to the youth and improving the youth programmes.
Supporters of the beautiful game are encouraged to support the local youngsters and welcome the English visitors at the three exhibition games.
Tickets can be purchased from Café del Sol in the Marquee Plaza and at Camana Bay, J&M Electronics, Texaco Starmart on Shedden Road and from Academy Sports Club (925-5032). Tickets are also available at the gates.
For further details on Swindon Town’s visit, contact Barry Martinez on 926-2732 or Ardin Rivers from the West Bay Sports Foundation on 927-7011.
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