A New Year’s wish came true for two of Barbados’ most talented teenage footballers, Diquan Adamson and Shaquille Stewart, when they unwrapped their Christmas gifts yesterday.
The two 17-year-old strikers will leave the island today for the United States on a six-month developmental stint with the Chicago Magic Soccer Club.
They will be accompanied by another striker, Kemar Headley, who is returning for his second stint at the same club which already has a fourth Barbadian, Zari Prescod, on its roster.
Last season the club, which has a state-of-the-art indoor facility at Highlands Park and whose youth soccer programme was ranked No. 1 for the past three consecutive years by Soccer America Magazine, also opened its door to rookie senior national player Kadeem Atkins, who is no longer eligible for the programme which allows players to play in area leagues and interstate competitive matches.
In an exclusive interview yesterday, Barbados Defence Force’s coach Asquith Howell told NATION SPORT that the boys will be embarking on a special United States Soccer Federation Development Academy programme.
And the quartet of Adamson, Stewart, Prescod and Headley will also have a chance to impress scouts and coaches in the United States with a view to gaining a contract in Major League Soccer (MLS) when they attend Chelsea Showcase which runs from tomorrow until Friday in Orlando, Florida.
Howell said he was contacted by Chicago Magic’s vice-president David Batinovic, who was keen to recruit additional Barbadian footballers, after he had accompanied Atkins to the United States earlier this year.
“He was interested in forwards and Diquan’s name was already in the system and after the opportunity came, I got in contact with his parents and local club (Notre Dame). The same thing was done for Shaquille, who was still at school (Alleyne) and even though he was originally only going for the showcase since he has not been entered for exams next year, it was decided that he would stay on,” Howell said.
“He asked that they come down earlier to get acclimatized to the conditions. Their accommodation, transportation, gear, food, medicals are being taken care of by the club. They only had to pay half of the air fare,” he noted.
And Howell revealed that Randy Harris, coordinator of the LIME Pelican Football Challenge, has provided Adamson with assistance.
Adamson, a product of Coleridge & Parry, made his senior debut this year playing in the national team’s unsuccessful 2014 World Cup qualifying campaign. He scored one of Barbados’ only two goals in the tournament during the first leg against Bermuda in Hamilton.
Stewart, the son of Barbados basketballer Adrian Stewart, came to the fore during the recent inaugural David Thompson Constituency Council’s Classic.
Hailing from Porey Spring, he represented losing finalist St Thomas and was the leading goal scorer and Most Valuable Player of the tournament.
Adamson first came to national attention in 2009 when he was the lone Barbadian selected by former England winger John Barnes from the Digicel Soccer Youth Clinics for a one-week training stint at English Premier League club, Sunderland.
The speedy and skillful Adamson scored four goals and formed a lethal striking partnership with Jabarry Chandler, who had a tournament-high eight goals and Prescod (three goals), helping Barbados reach the final stage of the CONCACAF Under-17 Youth World Cup.
The Haynesville resident also represented dethroned Premier League champions Claytons Kola Tonic Notre Dame and Conquerors in the LIME Pelican Challenge.
“I feel good to be leaving Barbados again to play football. I never expected that I would get these opportunities to travel overseas and play and will try to make the most of this one as I’m hoping to become a professional footballer,” Adamson said yesterday.
“While I would like to get a chance to play in the MLS as you have to start small, I would love to one day get to England to play in the Premier League,” he added.
Adamson has previously visited the United States with both the Barbados Soccer Academy and Pro-Shottas participating in the Dallas Cup and other showcases.
