Haynes gains US scholarship

JEREMY HAYNES is taking his talents Stateside.The multi-skilled Barbados Soccer Academy (BSA) footballer is the latest junior soccer player to get an opportunity to ply his trade in the United States after receiving a partial scholarship to attend Indiana-Purdue University, Fort Wayne (IPFW) this fall.Haynes’ scholarship offer was announced during a BSA press conference yesterday at Combermere to launch the academy’s new super camp, which kicks off today at the YMCA.“I’m really excited about the opportunity to play overseas,” said the former Harrison College student.“The experience here (at the academy) has been great and I really want to thank all the players, coaches and parents for their support.”The 18th BSA player to gain a scholarship in the United States, Haynes received the opportunity after impressing a couple coaches while on tour with the academy’s under-20 team in Miami.That stint eventually led to offers from two schools before Haynes eventually chose the Mastodons over Alabama A&M University over the former’s NCAA Division 1 soccer status in the Summit League.“We will continue to position our players to get a higher level of education by putting them in universities in the United States, but only NCAA Division I or II, nothing below that,” affirmed BSA director Jabez “Jack” Bovell.“The Barbados Soccer Academy is about action and not talk [because] there is too much talk in football in Barbados.”To that end, Bovell has launched another initiative, the Super Camp, intended to develop the skills of footballers, cricketers and juniors in track and field who wish to further their abilities past the basic level.This programme is in addition to the BSA’s six-week Camp Focus, which which concluded its sixth year yesterday at Combermere.According to Bovell, these camps are being used as catchment areas for new BSA members.