Budding players become buddies

Two players have stood out when it comes to breaking down barriers at the Digicel Kick Start Academy in Bridgetown, Barbados.

A total of  39 aspiring young footballers — three from Bermuda — from across the region are currently training for one week under coaches from the Chelsea Football Club Foundation.

Players across 12 countries have learnt about different cultures while being put through their paces. Among those are 16 year-olds Te'vahn Tyrell, from Bermuda, and Juan Checa from Panama. 

While going through their training exercises on the first day, the coaches noticed they were able to interact and communicate with each other despite the obvious language barrier.

Checa said: “Before going to the Academy, I was concerned because I do not speak English. But when I got there, I realised that the coaches and my Academy teammates were very helpful, so it has been a great experience for me so far.”

Tyrell said: “Football is all the same language, and once we are on the field as players, we are able to work around it.”

He added: “Even though I planned to bring my ‘A-game’ to the Academy, I realised that I did not come with enough intensity, especially when I saw the level of skill among the other players.

“Back in Bermuda, I am known for being a very expressive player on the field — using my body language and hands a lot. 

“I knew that he [Juan] didn’t speak English, so I used different hand signals to show him what the coaches wanted us to do. And, he is a very good player so he caught on quickly to what I was saying.”