Apparently, professional football in Barbados won’t end at the LIME Pelican Challenge.
Minister of Sports Stephen Lashley revealed that Government is keen on establishing a lucrative professional league as part of an overall plan to create career opportunities in sports across the country.
Lashley divulged the potential plan during an official reception at Hilton Barbados for English-born footballer Emmerson Boyce, who recently returned to Barbados after leading Wigan Athletic to their first ever FA Cup.
“We have a good opportunity to transform how we think about sports in Barbados, and I think in doing that we would have given meaning to the career dreams of many of our young people,” Lashley said, without giving specifics about the plan.
“Careers and opportunities in sports are there for the taking and there is a phenomenal opportunity for a career in football but there’s more to it than that because I believe what we have to do is to inspire our young people by means of expression of confidence in their ability.
“The dynamics of where we are moving in terms of our economic development are quite different and sports offer an avenue not only for the country to embrace new areas of making revenue, but to embrace new areas by which we could propel the career goals of our young people,” he added.
With Minister of Tourism Richard Sealy present, along with high-ranking sporting officials, Boyce was greeted by a heart-warming reception that featured video highlights of his career goals in the English Premiership and Wigan’s FA Cup triumph.
Lashley also went on to talk about the possibilities that exist for the development of youth football through Boyce’s accomplishments.
“There is an opportunity for us to work with Emmerson at varying levels to ensure that this accomplishment can be to the benefit of our young footballers in Barbados,” said Lashley.
“I have already discussed with him a few initiatives and he is quite anxious to get on board. Many of them relate to the development of youth football in Barbados, and I believe some of the things that we will be doing will be based on seeking to take our young footballers on the same journey that Emmerson has been able to embark on.” (JM)