No easy road to Britain for regional footballers

ST JOHN'S, Antigua:

Regional footballers have been making an impact in one of the world's top leagues, the English Premier League.

Those that readily come to mind are Trinidad and Tobago's Dwight Yorke and Kenwyne Jones, Jamaica's Ricardo Gardner and Ricardo Fuller. Despite outstanding performances by these players, regional footballers still struggle to make regular moves to the world's elite leagues.

Assistant academy manager Kevin Ball, of top-flight English Premier League club Sunderland, admitted that it was very difficult to get overseas players into the British system.

"In terms of getting overseas players into the country ... I do know it is very, very difficult," Ball stated. "We would like to go looking here, there and everywhere."

But Ball said they had to take into account the fact that there were legal issues to hurdle when they wanted to recruit a particular player.

"If it was simple, then any club would do it (bring in overseas players)," Ball said.

Coaching clinics

The Gleaner caught up with Ball and under-9 to under-16 academy coach, Carlton Fairweather, at the Antigua Recreation Ground on Thursday. Both men are in Antigua, courtesy of Digicel, to conduct coaching clinics with a number of youngsters and work with the local coaches.

"We were brought here by Digicel. We have had a three-year link with them through the Sunderland Football Club to coach on various islands in the region," Ball pointed out. "One thing that we have noticed over the days is how much they (the youngsters and coaches) want to become good footballers and become good coaches. They are prepared to listen and to learn from other persons, which is vitally important."

Ball is of the view that Yorke and Jones, who have both played for Sunderland, should be emulated by regional players.

"Any player in the region could always look up to the likes of Kenwyne (Jones), who I have worked with at the club, to say to themselves that if Kenwyne can do it I can do it. We had Dwight Yorke at the club as well and he is a fantastic ambassador for football in general."

Fairweather, who has also done clinics in Trinidad and Tobago, applauds the zeal shown by the youngsters.

"The kids from both regions have been very enthusiastic, they have worked hard and what you would hope, with us being here, the kids will learn one or two things from the sessions we have had and practice."

The three schoolboy footballers who are in Antigua and Barbuda to watch action in Group G of the Digicel Caribbean Cup along with national senior coach, Theodore 'Tappa' Whitmore, also got a first-hand look at the clinic.