26 February, 2008 - Impressed by the immense talent seen throughout the region, Sunderland AFC invites an additional two footballers to train at its Academy of Light

Kingston, Jamaica: Digicel Kick Start Clinics Head Coach, John Barnes together with Digicel Group CEO, Colm Delves, and FIFA Vice President, President of CONCACAF and the CFU, Austin Jack Warner, today announced the eight Caribbean U20 footballers who have been chosen to train for one week at Sunderland AFC’s Academy of Light in late March.

Such was the impressive level of talent that was evidenced during the seven week Digicel tour, the English Premier League club has now agreed to take two additional Caribbean players, after John Barnes highlighted the level of talent he encountered at the clinics.

And the recipients of this once in a lifetime opportunity are:

Speaking at the press conference, Colm Delves, Digicel Group CEO, explained: “We are delighted with the fantastic success of our inaugural Digicel Kick Start Clinics and excited about the role this initiative is already playing in the development of our young football talent.


President Jack Warner, Digicel CEO Colm Delves and John Barnes at the Press Announcement Feb 23

“Sunderland AFC has been a magnificent partner in this initiative and we are confident that their relationship with Caribbean football will continue to grow from strength to strength,” added Colm Delves.

The Digicel CEO also acknowledged that the Clinics would not have been made possible without the extraordinary commitment and energy of former England footballer and Caribbean native, John Barnes, who coached all eight clinics in eight countries in the past seven weeks. President Jack Warner and the Caribbean Football Union were also acknowledged as being crucial partners in ensuring that all elements of the Digicel Football Clinics ran smoothly.

According to the President of the Caribbean Football Union, Jack Warner: “These eight players will help bring National pride back into Caribbean football. Guyana, Haiti, St. Kitts & Nevis, Suriname, Trinidad & Tobago and Jamaica now have new young football heroes to recognize. Caribbean football is strong, as recent successes in World Cups have shown, and thanks to this Digicel initiative we have had the opportunity to demonstrate that our young footballers also have the talent and the dedication necessary to make a mark on the International stage.”

Digicel Kick Start Clinics’ Head Coach, John Barnes explained the selection: “In the six weeks of travelling, we have seen an abundance of talent, dedication, togetherness and commitment. It is important for all of the boys to know that the chosen eight players will represent every one of them. They are Caribbean Football Ambassadors and my hope, and I know it is also the hope of Digicel and the CFU, is that their journey to the UK will open people’s eyes to the potential of the Caribbean as an untapped talent pool.”

The eight Caribbean U20 footballers will begin their Journey of Champions on 23 March where they will spend one week training under the guidance of the English Premier League’s Coaches in Sunderland AFC’s Academy of Light. At the end of their week’s training, the young footballers will visit the Stadium of Light to watch Sunderland take on West Ham in the Barclay’s English Premier League.

Digicel is a long time supporter of Caribbean football, partnering with a number of Football Associations where it operates such as the Jamaica Football Federation, the Haiti Football Federation as well as the football associations of Guyana and Suriname, among others. The company is also the title sponsor of the Digicel Caribbean Cup which involves over 30 Caribbean countries and is the Caribbean qualification tournament towards the CONCACAF Gold Cup.