‘FirstKick’ programme kicks off at Harbour View
Published:Saturday | October 22, 2022 | 12:08 AMOrane Buchanan/Staff Reporter
WHILE members of the Harbour View Football Club (HVFC) senior team are finalising last-minute details for their opening fixture of the 2022-23 Jamaica Premier League (JPL) on Monday against newcomers Chapelton Maroons, work is being done to find the next generation of players to represent the club.
The ‘FirstKick’ football programme which begins today at 9 a.m. on the grounds of the reigning JPL champions will focus on under-5, under- 7, under-9 and under-11 players and is a venture general manager Clyde Jureidini hopes will develop players at this grassroots level.
“This is the basis upon which the HVFC was formed. In 1966, the early Minor League, which was the Desnoes & Geddes-sponsored under-16 competition, is what HVFC played as a youth team and we have stayed true to that. Players grow from that level to representing the senior teams,” said Jureidini.
The experienced administrator said the lack of youth development programmes on the island is as a major problem.
“Of the 14 parishes, probably five or six have youth development to different degrees, so the majority of the parishes don’t have. Most parishes and their football associations don’t pay genuine attention to proper developmental practices,” Jureidini added.
The football administrator believes that the HVFC age group development programme, which is open to any player in the required category, is primarily being hosted with the idea of creating a solid platform, where the fundamentals of the game can be taught in the right manner.
“We’re starting with the youngest ones first which we call our beginners programme, the ‘FirstKick’, where we teach them to participate and get to enjoy the game, love the game and to learn skills, rather than to win,” Jureidini added.
The urge to win at this stage, according the Jureidini, is inconsequential. Due to his experience in the sport, he believes outstanding talents at this level might not transfer that talent to adulthood and as such life lessons will be taught to enhance the development of the players.
“For me, you shouldn’t even be playing competition at this stage because there are no winners or losers here. You need to learn the basis of the game, the basic morals of the game, the commitment to the game, and how to lose as well as how to win games.
“You don’t get to the competitive aspects until under 13, under 15 and under 17. We’re going to get the youngsters participating to love the game and learn to develop skills and the right attitude towards life,” he added.