A CHANGE IN ATTITUDE by Barbadians towards the Chelsea Digicel Football Academy ranks among one of the programme’s biggest achievements to date.
So says Chelsea’s senior international football development officer David Monk, who believes that people are now beginning to see the real value of the clinic.
Speaking to NATION SPORT during the final day of the Digicel Kick Start Clinic at Kensington Oval on Saturday, he said that when the programme came to Barbados people questioned the motives behind its implementation.
“When we first arrived in Barbados, I believe that the general consensus was that Chelsea are here to run a soccer school, it’s not going to leave its legacy, and they are going to be in, try to make some money and duck out again,” Monk pointed out.
“And I’ve seen the perception of why we are here change amongst the Bajan population. People are now realizing that this is a long-term programme and this is the development of Bajan football.
“And what I am starting to see is that the general population is accepting that, and they are being very receptive and they are helping us and supporting us,” he added.
He lauded the work of the Barbados Football Association (BFA), which he said had lent tremendous assistance to the programme.
“I have massive respect for president of the BFA, Randy Harris. He has been very supportive to what we are trying to do on the island.
“He understands the value of what it is about, and we have got so much more support now from the BFA and the local clubs on the island, now that they understand that we are not here for a quick fix or a quick buck,” Monk said.
The project’s head honcho said in turn it had made the time spent on the island very rewarding, while stating that their goals and targets were being achieved.
The six-day clinic, which ran from November 11 to 16, came to an exciting end with Lampard’s Caribbean All Stars edging the Barbados Under-17 side 4-3 in an exciting final of a quadrangular tournament.
Led by goals from Juan Mancilla in the 14th and 70th minutes, Geovannie Lake in the 48th and Jairo Lombardo in the 64th, the All Stars were able to dethrone the defending champions.
Shaquille Belle netted in the 17th minute, Shaquille Boyce in the 27th and Jalani Keizer in the 84th for Barbados.
Hazard’s Caribbean All Stars won the third-place playoff against Oscar’s Caribbean All Stars 3-2 in an earlier encounter.
