Bermudians win Kick Start Academy spots

Digicel Bermuda has announced the three selected to travel to Barbados and participate in the Digicel Kick Start Academy – Ahria Simons, Jason Symonds and Kamali Davis.

Ahria, Jason and Kamali were amongst the 30 footballers selected to participate in the Digicel Kick Start Clinic with Chelsea FC coaches at the Bermuda Athletic Association over the weekend.  The boys were challenged to 2 days of vigorous testing where Chelsea FC coaches judged athletic and technical abilities as well as overall character.  The 3 selected to travel to Barbados demonstrated a focus and passion for the sport, the capability to carry a ball at pace and showcased the communication skills required to represent Bermuda internationally. Ahria, Jason and Kamali will travel to Barbados in October to experience world class football training with some of the world’s best coaches.

David Monk, Senior International Football Development Officer CFC Foundation says, “This year we were faced with an extremely difficult decision to select the 3 players from 30 of Bermuda’s most talented young footballers.  Having an extra day to work with the players allowed us to build a more conclusive profile of each individual, thus ensuring that we were justified in our selection.  We look forward to working with the 3 successful candidates in Barbados.”

Llineiko Millett was selected as this year’s wildcard entrant for Bermuda.  Wildcard entrants are selected from participating Clinics across the Caribbean for having the fastest overall speed as measured by speed and agility testing with and without a football.  As a result, Llineiko will be included in a social media campaign entitled “Pick Your Top 3” alongside 13 other wildcard entrants in July.  Bermuda’s social media community will be encouraged to participate in this opportunity to support and showcase local talent on a global stage.  Ultimately the 3 wildcard entrants with the most votes will too attend the Digicel Kick Start Academy in Barbados.

“We are delighted to express our commitment to creating rewarding opportunities for the youth of Bermuda in the area of sport and specifically grassroots football,” comments Wayne Caines, CEO of Digicel Bermuda.  “The level of expertise afforded to our island’s football community was huge and those selected to represent Bermuda in this endeavor will no doubt benefit tremendously.”

The weeklong training session scheduled to take place in Barbados in October promises to be a significant experience for participants who will spend the week developing their techniques while learning valuable life skills such as personal awareness and self-esteem.