The Central FC Football Factory, which took place for nine days over Easter proved a big success with children from the whole Central region. Sixty-five children took part in the Easter camp which was held at Presentation College, Chaguanas.
“It was a great success” said Central FC managing director Brent Sancho, “But what was most pleasing was to see children representing areas from right across the region.”
Sancho said it is important for the club to extend their reach throughout Central as The Sharks want to be truly representative of their community.
The nine-day coaching school, which partnered with the successful Port-of-Spain Football Factory, was an introduction to a regular coaching school that will also take place at Presentation College on Tuesday and Thursday evenings starting on April 18 at 3.30 pm.
“The coaching school is our first step in the development of professional players” said Sancho. “From the school, players will be selected to join our youth teams and hopefully in the end, our senior team.”
Sancho said that the club has already identified two youngsters in their under-17 team who have been recommended to English clubs.
“We expect one of them to be leaving for England in the next few weeks. He’ll be going to a Championship club and will hope to be selected for the clubs academy.”
Sancho says the California-based club are extremely proud as it further proves the benefits to the region of having a professional club based in Central.
And to further assist in building links to the community, Central FC will be launching their Community Challenge today, when the Sharks first team will play against a select Crown Trace XI coached by Nicholas Griffith, at the Crown Trace ground, where the Sharks youth teams play their matches.
“We will be playing a series of matches throughout the Central region with the aim of solidifying the clubs roots in the community.” said Sancho, who believes the region needs more community programmes to help alleviate some of the social ills that plague our communities.
As well as the Central FC first team and staff, there will also be nicer legs on show in the form of the Carib Pilsner promotion girls who will be distributing free samples of beer from the Carib Pilsner caravan.
“It’s important for the club to actively scout talent in the region as we want to see local players take the field for Central. But it’s also important that we encourage the communities to get behind the team, so we will also have a Central FC information tent at the game on Sunday.”
Central FC will face Crown Trace XI today with kick off at 6.30 pm at the Crown Trace recreation ground.