Monday, February 4, 2008

SIXTH LEG OF DIGICEL KICK START FOOTBALL CLINICS COMPLETE

- Surinamese players show commendable promise for the future development of football in Suriname

Monday, 4 February – Paramaribo, Suriname: The third and final day of the Suriname Digicel Kick Start Clinics ended on Sunday February 3 with a high tempo match and a disciplined performance by both the National U-20 and the opposing team Robin Hood. Robin Hood fought aggressively but gave away the match in the second half. With the score 1-1, the Robin Hood goalie fouled the National U-20 attacker, giving the Nationals a penalty kick which led to their 2-1 victory at the Franklyn Essed Stadium in Paramaribo.

After the match, Digicel Clinics’ Head Coach, John Barnes commented on the Surinamese players: “I like what I saw today. The match was played in good spirit, and all the players exhibited the discipline and togetherness that I have been speaking about. There are about three or four players from Suriname that will be up for consideration to go to Sunderland and one of the players I’m considering is from Robin Hood. What I have seen here today shows commendable promise for the future development of football in Suriname.”

John Barnes was able to see the raw talent of the Surinamese the day before the start of the Digicel Clinics when he was invited to referee a match with the young boys at the Christophorus Children’s Home in Paramaribo. The trip gave Barnes a sample of what to expect from the National U-20 side during the Suriname Digicel Clinics.

At a press briefing held on Thursday January 31, Louis Giskus, President of the Suriname Voetball Bond (Football Association), spoke confidently about the talent Barnes would find in Suriname: “We have very disciplined and dedicated players here in Suriname and I know that Mr. Barnes will be able to find players to go to Sunderland right here in Suriname.”

During the intense two-day training clinics conducted by Barnes, the Suriname National U-20 consistently exhibited discipline and professionalism demonstrating Suriname’s potential for international success.

Suriname National U-20 Head Coach, Kenneth Jalins noted the structure of the Digicel Clinics: “The organisation of the Digicel Kick Start Clinics is very good. The structure of the sessions ensures that the players get everything they can out of it. Barnes is very clear and precise and makes it easy for the players to understand what he wants from them. He is very motivational and he has shown them how to further develop skills they already have. Barnes has a good spirit on the pitch, is motivational and has a passion for developing young footballers.”

At the end of the CFU sponsored eight-country Digicel Kick Start Clinic tour Barnes will announce the select six chosen to train at Sunderland AFC’s Academy of Light for one week in March 2008. The announcement will take place in Kingston, Jamaica on Saturday February 23rd.

The Digicel Kick Start Football Clinics now make their way to Trinidad for the second to last leg ending Monday February 11.


Suriname National
U-20 2 - 1 Robin Hood
10 Shots 8
8 Fouls 10
0 Yellow cards 2
0 Red Cards 1
1 Offside 1
3 Corners 2


END
About Digicel

Since its launch in 2001, Digicel has become the fastest-growing wireless telecommunications operator in the Caribbean. Digicel is renowned for competitive rates, unbeatable coverage, superior customer care, a wide variety of products and services, and state-of-the-art handsets. It is the largest GSM operator in the region.

Digicel is incorporated in Bermuda and has operations in twenty three markets, including Anguilla, Antigua & Barbuda, Aruba, Barbados, Bermuda, Bonaire, Curaçao, The Cayman Islands, Dominica, El Salvador, French Guiana, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Martinique, St. Kitts & Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad & Tobago, Turks & Caicos and El Salvador. Digicel also has a license in Guatemala and coverage in St. Martin and St. Barths.

The company is the lead sponsor of Caribbean sports teams including the West Indies Cricket Team, Special Olympics teams across the Caribbean and is title sponsor of the Digicel Caribbean Football Union Cup, which involves over 30 Caribbean countries and is an important qualifier towards the CONCACAF Gold Cup.

For more information, visit http://digicelfootball.com

About Sunderland’s Academy of Light

Sunderland’s Academy of Light training ground is a multi-million-pound, multi-purpose building that has catered for Sunderland players since it opened in March 2003, and remains one of Europe’s leading training complexes.

The state-of-the-art facility caters for a player’s every need, boasting nine full-size football pitches and a wealth of indoor facilities including a swimming pool and a fully-equipped gymnasium.

The Academy part of the building, which is specifically for the club’s younger players, also includes a number of classrooms with modern computers to help educate young players while they’re with the club

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