Derek “Billy” Hurley’s list of achievements just keeps getting longer.
The latest, an invitation to attend a three-month football coaching stint at the prestigious Ron La Forest Soccer Academy in Trinidad Tobago is added testimony that Hurley is indeed a talisman of his trade.
The Academy which is named after one of Trinidad’s most famous players, Ron La Forest, recently entered into a three-year programme with Spanish football giants Real Madrid.
In an interview with MIDWEEKSPORT at his residence recently, Hurley who represented Barbados in football at both the junior and senior levels before turning his sights to coaching said that the invitation came after years of successful work in the twin-island republic.
He revealed that over the past 13 years, he had taken up coaching stints at various football clubs such as Joe Public, San Juan Jabloteh and Mapau FC, and therefore it had come as no surprise that the invitation had been extended to him.
“The last time I was on attachment in 2007, I received some impressive reports from the different clubs which I attended,” he said while showing off some of the many accolades which he had received.
“Whenever I take on any coaching job I always put my heart and soul into it, and this has been the key reason why I have excelled at whatever I put my mind to.
“The Ron La Forest Academy is one of the top academies in the Caribbean and it is indeed an honour to have been invited for a coaching stint, but that in itself speaks to my dedication and commitment,” Hurley pointed out. So dedicated is he to helping others, children especially, that he has also founded his own programme in Barbados, the Friends International Soccer Programme, which he opened in 2000.
He also coaches the football team of the Samuel Jackman Prescod Polytechnic and works as a coach in the Ministry of Youth Affairs.
The aim, he pointed out, was to use football as a way of keeping children off the streets.
“I myself had a very rough upbringing. I know that it isn’t always easy because of all the temptations that they have, but I’m hoping that I can lure some of these children off the streets and into something positive.
“By using football as an advocate, I help to sharpen not only their football skills, but also their social skills, educational skills and improve their mental toughness.
“If I can save two out of 20 children, I would consider that a major success, because that means those are two children who will not end up being a burden on society.”
