Valencia coaches ready for Next Generation camp

The second of three annual stagings of the Next Generation Valencia Football Club Football Camp, to be conducted by coaches from the Valencia Football Club Foundation in Spain, will be held from April 16-20 at Sabina Park.

This follows the successful staging of the camp last Easter, which saw two of the camp's scholarship winners - Martin Davis and Kaya Beckford - journeying to Spain for a week-long training stint with the Valencia Academy.

Both youngsters have since been called back to Spain and are currently training with the Valencia F.C. Under-17 team and the E1 Valencia Academy, respectively.

The success of last year's camp resulted in Valencia signing a contract with the Next Generation team, granting them rights to conduct similar camps throughout the region, and a commitment from Valencia to set up an academy in Jamaica by 2013.

"The Jamaica camp was so well organised, managed and marketed that we agreed to partner with the Next Generation Team to work with us in this region," said Pablo Mantilla, director of the Valencia Foundation."

The second regional camp was held in Bermuda in October 2010 and, due to the high level of sponsorship, will see the Valencia Academy Bermuda opening its doors later this year.

Developing young talent

The 2011 Jamaica camp will enjoy a higher level of participation than last year, as it will cater to 160 high-potential football kids aged between seven and 17, along with coaches contracted to train kids in this age group.

Victor Salazar-Chang, the camp's principal investor, emphasises that the camp is primarily about developing kids through sport and enhancing the level of professional youth football in Jamaica.

"This year we have added two strategic components to the camp that will help us to meet our mandate. Firstly, we will be selecting members of a football club/school team from an inner-city community, who will have the opportunity to take part in a sponsored one-hour session with the coaches at Sabina Park. We are also looking at ways to incorporate the national Under-17 team into the camp sessions. With their qualifi-cation for this year's World Cup, it would only enhance their preparation to train with the European coaches."

Scotiabank and Claro, sponsors from the 2010 Jamaica camp, are back aboard this year, as they continue to see the venture as being in sync with their own development strategies for Jamaican football and the country's youth in general.

"When we look back at what was achieved at the Valencia F.C. Next Generation Football Camp 2010, it was an easy decision for Scotiabank to come on board again this year," said Monique Todd, Scotia's vice-president - marketing, public and corporate affairs. "The children that participated in the football camp were not only exposed to international training, but also the value of a disciplined approach. Children and coaches were taught that success comes from focused dedication, hard work and commitment, which are important lessons to learn at any age."

Other major sponsors are the Spanish Court Hotel, which will accommodate the coaches and be the official venue for all events leading up to the camp and the Spanish Jamaica Foundation.