FC kids love Saturday football training

By Christopher Tobutt

Lots of kids, mostly around primary school  were running as fast as they could through javelin sticks at the Theoline L. McCoy Primary School in Bodden Town. It was one of FC International’s famous football training sessions for kids, and they were loving it. Then they were doing it again, but this time with a football, keeping control of it all the time. It was pro-level football coaching for kids and it made them all feel like stars.

Like Ashley Manderson: “I I like the drills, and also the games. Today I enjoyed going backwards through the cones. Next to her, Kayden, 11 said, “the thing today that was really cool was how we got to go really.  fast through the javelin sticks.  I like this camp because I can lose weight gain agility and you can really go places playing football

FC international hold camps all summer long, and aim for camps in every single district, so that none of the kids get left out, altogether touching the lives of well over 300 kids.  There are nice cool drinks of fruit punch and there is a meal too. Today it was pizza, and sometimes there is an extra-special treat as the ice cream truck pulls up and all the young football stars get in line.  Some camps are a week long, and the kids go during their summer holidays. Others, like this one, are on a Saturday morning after the school term has  begun.

Kids get out of the house on a Saturday morning and join in the fun of meeting one another, learning new football skills, discipline, and most important of all, playing together. The camps are run by a dedicated team of volunteers from FC International including the club’s Technical Director, Elbert McLean, and Club President, Kennedy Ebanks (and many more, too many to name individually).

The volunteers do it because they all love football, and they know what it did for them when they were growing up, so they don’t want any child to miss out. The camp is completely free, and each of the kids get smart football shirts to wear, and a meal. It relies on the generosity of donors, and there are several notable MP’s who always step up to the plate to offer their support, because they know about the great things that camps like this do for kids.

Elbert McLean said, “We want to contribute back to society by helping the kids get something positive together. This morning the kids have been learning skills like passing, controlling, and teamwork and stuff like that.” After the drills are over, it is time for more fun as the kids play games.

President Kennedy Ebanks thanked all the sponsors and everyone who has helped make the camp a success, including all the young coaches and even the moms and grandmas who come to see their kids and grandkids, and help serve the food and drinks. It builds confidence and self-esteem into the kids, and these days that can’t be bad.