Approximately 40 of Barbados’ best Under-13 footballers will be selected to train at the National Sports Council (NSC) facility in My Lords Hill in the near future.
That was according to senior NSC coach Adrian Donovan, who was speaking on Wednesday at the Wildey Turf during the trophy presentation of the 2023 BICO Primary School Football Competition.
He explained that the selected best young talent would be earmarked and identified to go through the local ranks with a view of moulding them into future senior players.
“We call this tournament the ‘Road to the Turf’,” Donavon said in reference to the saying ‘Road to Wembley’ which details one club’s journey to England’s hallowed turf during a particular season.
“You start (the competition) on the outside fields and you play the finals at the turf. After today, coaches at the NSC will compile about 40 names. We call them potential players and they will invite you to come and train at Blenheim on Saturday mornings in a combined squad. So you will continue training, then possibly once things are right, you can go on tours.”
This summer, the previous groups’ Under-13 and Under-15 players will be travelling to Trinidad and Tobago to play against club teams of a similar age. “Those are the Under-13 and Under-15 boys coming from this competition before COVID-19 started. Once you are selected, try your best and get to practice,” Donovan concluded.
St Cyprian’s Preparatory Boys School were crowned champions of this year’s competition after beating All Saints Primary 2-0 in the final through goals from Seth Goodridge and Logan Pounder. It was their first ever football title.
Eden Lodge ran out 4-0 winners against St George’s Primary school in the third place playoff. (JC)