BARBADOS SOCCER ACADEMY footballers are continuing to attract the eyes of American universities.
One of its members, Jabarry Nicholls, has been offered a 90 per cent scholarship to attend Post University in Connecticut.
Nicholls, 19, a former deputy headboy at The St Michael School, was spotted in Connecticut during a showcase by one of the coaches from the university.
He will be studying for a Bachelor of Science degree in banking and financing, along with playing NCAA Division 2 football.
This is the 19th scholarship the Barbados Soccer Academy has secured in the last six years.
Nicholls was one of five players – the others were Jevon Durant, Dave Drayton, Jadai Clarke and Akeem Straker – who recently travelled to the United States for trials.
Barbados Soccer Academy’s chief executive officer, Jabez “Jack” Bovell, said other colleges had shown interest in other players, but he was awaiting decisions from the coaches.
Bovell also revealed that he would be working with a few universities and clubs in the United States to have biannual trials.
In addition to the tryouts, a one-week tournament will be held in the United States and the funds collected from the gate receipts would help defray some of the players’ living expenses.
Bovell also said the Barbados Soccer Academy had a working relationship with the Houston Dynamo in Texas, and there were plans also to send Under-15 and Under-17 players to another Major League club during the summer for six weeks.
“The Barbados Soccer Academy has established itself as a premier football institution for preparing student athletes for their next step in life,” Bovell said.
“However, academic enrichment and athletic skill development – though critically important – represent only a portion of the training that Barbados Soccer Academy student athletes receive.
“We instill the confidence that allows our student athletes to aspire for anything that their mind can imagine, while providing the tools to help them reach those goals.
“The academy’s soccer programme is committed to the development and placement of players at the next level,” he added. (HG/PR)
