|
Over 600 of Grenada’s youth taught fundamentals of Soccer  The 3rd Annual Marlon Glean Soccer Camp, currently dubbed Grenada’s biggest and fastest-growing youth soccer programme held every year in August for children from the age of 7 through to 17, this year, saw over six hundred (600) participants turning out between Progress Park in St. Andrew’s and Cuthbert Peters’ Park at Gouyave in St. John’s at its third annual successful hosting. 
The camp which was held only at Gouyave for the past two (2) years (2005 – 2006) for children of St. Mark’s, St. John’s and St. George’s was expanded to the parish of St. Andrew’s this year (2007) in an effort to bring similar benefits to boys and girls from St. David’s, St. Andrew’s and St. Patrick’s, increasing the camp schedule to four (4) days. Over two hundred and thirty (230) participants came out at Progress Park on Monday 27th and Tuesday 28th while on Thursday 30th and Friday 31st, over three hundred and seventy (370) youth attended the camp, and were taught the fundamentals of soccer. The main objectives of the Marlon Glean Soccer Camp are to further develop soccer on the island of Grenada; engage the youth in a productive and fun-filled back-to-school programme; and identify more future scholarship recipients under the Marlon Glean Soccer Scholarship Programme which has seen over thirty (30) entrants so far and fifteen (15) Grenadian soccer players currently studying via soccer scholarships in various U.S. colleges. Twenty six (26) coaches from all over Grenada came out in support of this four-day local initiative, including Michael Felix (former Grenada National Team Coach), Kellon Baptiste (current Grenada National Goalkeeping Coach), Dick Furlonge (current Grenada Under-23 National Team Coach), Andrew Modeste (current Grenada Under-15 National Team Coach), Patty Modeste, Dorsette Langaigne and Nickel Paul (current Grenada National Team Players), and Selwyn Paul, C. J. Williams and Bull Sullivan (ex-National Players). According to Marlon Glean, former National Footballer and one of the Directors of the camp, “it’s equally important for us to conduct the teaching aspect of soccer when we coach, which needs to be done at a very early stage. With the camp, we have created an avenue for the teaching of fundamentals every year. The children have fun while learning and we, as coaches and organisers, are elated for the further opportunity to give back to our communities, with the aim of developing Grenada’s soccer to its fullest potential”. Speaking at the last day of the camp in Gouyave, Director Reece Sam expressed the importance of organising such positive initiatives, and the need for more sponsorship to keep them growing and continuously successful. “The Marlon Glean Soccer Camp,” she said “is a non-profit-making programme which could not be the success that it is today if not for the timely and highly-impacting sponsorship from companies like Cable & Wireless, Geo. F. Huggins, Grenada Bottling, Andall Hike and Sports, Bernies Ice Cream, Waggy T Rentals, Courts, Republic Bank, Nordom Seafoods, Signs & Designs Grenada National Lottery Authority and other sport-related government institutions. We must say special thanks for the assistance received from the New York Committees: New York Fish Friday – Club 900 and the New York St. Mark’s Committee, and all our other contributors and persons who assisted in the different communities.” The Marlon Glean’s Soccer Camp was endorsed by the Ministry of Sports and the Grenada Olympic Committee who also lent their assistance on the four (4) days. Day One in both Progress Park and Cuthbert Peters’ Park saw mainly the teaching of soccer fundamentals while Day Two at each venue was used for hosting of the Mini-World Cups. Among the many highlights of the camp was the Eastern vs. Western All-Star Game which was won by the Eastern Team; the receipt of a Cable & Wireless-sponsored Marlon Glean Soccer Camp t-shirt by every participant, the coaches’ shirts by Grenada Bottling Company and the numerous prizes and refreshments received by each participant compliments the sponsors. ---END--- About Marlon Glean Soccer CampThe Marlon Glean Soccer Camp is the brain-child of Marlon Glean, former Grenada National Footballer and Director of the Marlon Glean Soccer Scholarship Programme.The Soccer camp was initiated in 2005, and has been a successful annual event ever since with the backing of the Government, social and sporting organisations, local businesses and community-spirited Grenadians. It involves boys and girls across the country between the ages of 7 and 17 being trained towards the further development of Soccer in Grenada.The Marlon Glean’s Soccer Camp has been endorsed by the Ministry of Sports, the Grenada Football Association and the Grenada Olympic Committee. Over twelve hundred (1,200) youth have participated in the soccer camp over the last three (3) years; while the soccer scholarship programme has secured over (30) scholarships for Grenadian footballers during the past five (5) years through various universities within the United States. The Marlon Glean Soccer Camp has two (2) Directors: Marlon Glean, who is currently based in the United Kingdom, and Reece Sam who is the Executive Director of Blowtorch Events. They both see these initiatives as opportunities to give back to the Grenadian community and help in the overall development of the soccer sporting discipline in Grenada. Contacts: Mr. Marlon Glean Director
This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it
Ms. Reece Sam Director
This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it
|
