Manchester United coaches Kevin Ward and Eamon Mulvey will be joined by Atlantic sports ambassadors Andrew Lewis and Merissa Aguilleira, in leading the nation’s top primary school footballers into sporting excellence at the Atlantic Football and Life Skills Development Camp from today until Tuesday, at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Port-of-Spain.
Now expanded into a five-day format, the annual football camp aims to develop the technical and social skills of the top 25 boys and 25 girls of this year's Atlantic National Primary Schools Football League as well as the coaching skills and techniques of primary school teachers and coaches.
Olympic sailor, Lewis and West Indies Women’s captain, Aguilleira, will be on hand to speak to the children about leadership, as well as about coping methods to deal with the challenges of achieving academic and sporting success.
The Atlantic Football Development and Life Skills Camp will adopt a holistic approach consisting of technical training sessions as well as life skills and motivational sessions for the children. On Sunday, the third day, exhibition games will be played between Tunapuna Boys RC and Longdenville Girls and the camp participants.
On Monday, the children will receive certificates of participation and the top six players on the camp will be announced. Then, on Tuesday, coaches Ward and Mulvey will host a clinic for local coaches, which will focus on modern coaching methods and practices and technical training.
This is Atlantic’s fourth year sponsoring the camp, which is facilitated by the Manchester United coaches. An experienced skills development coach for the last nine years, lead coach Mulvey has an international coaching licence (DFB Germany), as well as an ‘A’ Licence Youth Licence. Assistant coach, Ward has been a skills development coach for the last five years and a Manchester United Academy coach for the last nine years and also has the ‘B’ Licence Youth Licence certification.
Local consultants Dolly and Associates will conduct the Camp’s life skills component. This will include such topics as interpersonal skills, etiquette training, conflict resolution and balancing school life and sports.
The Atlantic Football and Life Skills Development Camp supplements the annual Atlantic National Primary Schools Football League by further developing the football skills of selected talented players and enhancing their skills in life management. The initiative contributes to the sustainable development of football in T&T and also LNG producer Atlantic’s aim to equip future generations of athletes.
Participants
Boys
Declan Luke (Montrose Gov’t), Malick Robinson (Montrose Gov’t), Keelan Burnette (Carapichaima RC), Ameil Weekes (Valencia South RC), Brandon Dookhieram (Biche RC), Jeremiah Williams (Sangre Grande Gov’t), Nickell Alexander (Arima New Gov’t), Tyrique Sutherland (Tunapuna Boys RC), Aden Williams (La Horquetta North Gov’t), Kylon Brathwaite (Whim AC), Oshea Williams (Bon Accord Gov’t), Quincy Winchester (Patience Hill Gov’t), Jeremiah John (Moruga RC), Akeem Joachim (St Mary's Gov’t), Jeremiah Ottway (Mayaro RC), Ezekiel Keasar (Point Fortin RC), Jamol Trim (La Brea RC), Jamal Matthews (Siparia Boys RC), N'kosi Corbin (Eastern Boys Gov’t), Isaiah Vincent (Diamond Vale Gov’t), Jarique Williams (Sacred Heart Boys RC), Terron Celestine (St Agnes Anglican), Isaiah Gomez (Vos Government), Molik Khan (San Fernando Boys RC), Dantay Gilbert (San Fernando Boys RC).
Girls
Tia McGilvery (Longdenville Gov’t), Aveola Abraham (Longdenville Gov’t), Britney Herbert (St David’s RC), Special Fafe, Manzanilla Gov’t), Fay Anne Johnson (Nariva Gov’t), Kayla Baboolal (Biche RC), Crystal Gibbs (St Mary's Children's Home), Annalicia McMillan (Bon Air Gov’t), Shakeema Alexander (La Horquetta North), Shanice Ayoung (Mason Hall Gov’t), Shevica Persaud (Pentecostal Light Ministries), Aniyka Silvan (Mason Hall Gov’t), Sheng Eccles (St Mary's Gov’t), Jayriel Charles (Moruga RC), Chrissy Mitchell (Mayaro RC), Kekola Bhola (Icacos Gov’t), Tishelle James (Icacos Gov’t), Kayla Garcia (Penal RC), Natisha Jules (Carenage Girls Gov’t), Aisha Neckles (Carenage Girls Gov’t), Maria Serrant (Diamond Vale Gov’t), Shantel Wilson (Vos Gov’t), Natania Lalloo (Vos Gov’t), Natica Noel (Mon Repos RC).