Outstanding trio earns one-week trip to Valencia

Robert Bailey, Gleaner Writer

National Under-17 representative Junior Flemmings was selected among three outstanding youngsters who were awarded one-week scholarships to the Valencia Youth Academy in Spain, for being top performers at the 2011 Next Generation Valencia Easter Camp, which ended on Wednesday at Sabina Park in Kingston.

The others are Luca Levee of Campion College and Raewin Senior of Hydel, who will be travelling to Spain to take up scholarships at the Valencia Youth Academy, after receiving their cheque of $50,000 and a trophy from various sponsors.

If they impress during their one-week spell, they could have their tenure with the Spanish football academy extended to a year.

Flemmings, who was a starting member of the Jamaica College's triple crown-winning team last year, said he was very surprised with the.

"I was very frightened when I heard my name called," said Flemmings.

"I didn't think that I was going to be the one that they were going to select to go to Valencia, and so this is really a surprise to me," said the 15-year-old Flemmings, who is the youngest member of the National Under-17 team that is currently preparing for the FIFA World Cup Finals in June.

Training very hard

"I have been training very hard since I have been on the national team, and for me to win this award it's a big boost for my career," said Flemmings, who plays for Tivoli Gardens in youth leagues.

Vanie Clarke, physical education student at the G.C. Foster College and former coach of Premier League outfit Benfica, was very elated as he was chosen from 30 coaches to attend a two-week camp at the Valencia Academy.

"I am very excited for this opportunity to go into another culture and to see how they do things in a professional manner, and to see how much I can learn," said Clarke.

Andre Virtue, technical director of Next Generation Camp, said he was very pleased with the overall running of the camp.

"I think it was very successful because planning it for months and months and to actually be here and see it coming to an end was excellent as all our objectives were met," said Virtue.

Captain Horace Burrell, president of the Jamaica Football Federation, thanked the organisers for their initiative to expose the youngsters to top-class coaching.

"I think it's a wonderful camp because we are so pleased to have had these coaches come to Jamaica at this time," said Burrell.

"In Jamaica we have talented youngsters, but they are lacking in terms of tactical awareness; and with these type of coaches coming here and giving of their knowledge, it will go a far way in helping to properly develop the youngsters in areas which they are lacking in," Burrell added.