LIME, Sandals, Coach Daniel Team Up.
MORE St. Lucian youth are receiving support from LIME to help them develop their football skills.
Telecommunications provider LIME, and the Sandals Foundation have teamed up to sponsor the LIME & Trevor Daniel Football Development Programme (FDP). It is the brainchild of General Manager of Recreational Centre St. Lucia, Trevor Daniel and one of St. Lucia’s leading professional football coaches, and is fully endorsed by the Ministry of Youth Development & Sports and the Ministry of Education.
The aim of the programme is to introduce creative, fun-filled and carefully crafted football training to youth in the 4 – 12 age categories, to develop and nurture their raw talents. It focuses on teaching the young hopefuls’ the rules of the game, improving their playing techniques, teaching them how to dribble the ball, basic passing and ball striking skills and the value of discipline and teamwork. It also encourages them to consider choosing a career in football and to look to the future with a positive attitude and a determination to be masters of the sport.
Two hundred and fifty boys and girls from 13 primary schools in and around Castries are participating in the programme. It will be held annually and features a 42-week curriculum that runs from September through to July. It is an after-school programme and ‘school field’ shuttle-bus services are provided to all the participating schools. The progress and development of each of the players will be documented, including via video recordings.
LIME is providing all 250 players with branded uniforms, including jerseys with the players’ names, shorts and socks, along with footballs. The Sandals Foundation is also providing the programme with financial support.
Minister of Education, Dr. Robert Lewis joined representatives of LIME and Sandals, officials from the Education and Sports Ministries and the organisers of the LIME & Trevor Daniel FDP at an official launching of the initiative last week Thursday at the playing field of the LIME Corinth compound. He praised both sponsors for supporting the programme.
LIME Marketing & Communications Executive, Sharlene Jn. Baptiste said: “More than ever now, there is an urgent need to get the youth involved in sports in view of the fact that they are facing some very tough challenges, including economic hardships, social dislocation, and their vulnerability to negative influences such as gangs, drug abuse and crime. Rather than simply telling them to stay away from those corrupting influences, we believe, as a responsible corporate citizen, that the onus is on us to put our money where our mouth is and match our words with actions, hence the reason why we’re very excited and proud to have our name attached to this programme.”
Daniel expressed gratitude to LIME and Sandals for their generous sponsorship and for their strong commitment to supporting our goal of building a better Saint. Lucian society by providing the youths with a positive avenue to channel their energies. He said: “We are committed to investing time and resources, along with innovative developmental strategies in order to get kids excited about playing football while they’re still at a young age. Our training sessions are not only designed to help them develop their natural skills, but also to build their self-confidence and meet new friends. It will also help them become well-rounded characters and achieve their full potential whilst having fun playing the game.”