Grenada Football Association to focus on Youth and Women in 2012

ST GEORGE’S, Grenada, October 14, 2011 - The Grenada Football Association (GFA) said that youth, women and club development in the sport will be the focus of attention in 2012.

President of the GFA, Cheney Joseph said that as part of the Executive Committee’s four-year plan, emphasis will be placed on a Youth Development Structure which seeks to identify and nurture talent at an early age.

Joseph said that this include women’s football, youth football involving both male and female and club development and improvement.

“We want to partner with existing schools and academies, the Ministries of Education and Sports as well as the Jason Roberts Foundation and community groups,” he said.

This new initiative to be undertaken, he said, will seek to address the recent demise of quality football competitions at the club level in recent years. Grenada has not done well in any youth competition since 1989 and this has translated in not many quality players emerging in the past decade, according to the GFA President.

Chairman of the Youth Development Committee, Patrick Francis is leading the charge to revive youth football in Grenada. Francis believes that in order for the sport to make strides on the island, there must be a structured programme which first introduces the sport to kids and the nurture those to be identified and further trained.

The GFA has seen the need for improved structure at the community and youth levels and due to the increased popularity of the sport worldwide the GFA wants to reach communities across the island including Carriacou.

Joseph said that the GFA wants to return to glory days at all levels and therefore is seeking to commence the programme in January 2012. He said the programme to be called “Grenada to the World” seeks to harness youth talent among boys and girls and prepare them for future professional contracts.

Some of the goals of the programme include

·       To reach out to all children in communities to offer them an ongoing programme of positive sports activities through football.

·       To increase self-esteem of youngsters through participation in an organised and supportive programme of team activities.

·       To build positive social and life skills.

·       To provide important exercise and increase awareness of one's own health through sports.

·       To provide the players with positive, cooperative and enjoyable activities

·       Prepare home grown talent on the international stage

·       Establish a cadre of elite players for national duties

The GFA’s first steps to ensure the programme is successful will be a public relations campaign aimed at targeting clubs, coaches, parents, sponsors, and community organisations. The GFA will be offering training opportunities to individuals wishing to become part of this national programme.