As part of the Digicel Kick Start Clinics, the legendary John Barnes arrived in St. Kitts on Monday, 21st January, having conducted clinics in Jamaica, Haiti and Barbados, visited eight islands in the Caribbean as part of Digicel’s ongoing support of football in the region. As well as coaching the under 20’s teams of the various islands, Barnes is also looking to select six talented and dedicated youngsters to spend one week training at the prestigious Sunderland Football Academy of Light. This is a fabulous opportunity for these young players, as the selected six will get to train with Barclay’s Premier League club Sunderland AFC’s young Academy footballers and learn from the international expertise of the club’s youth coaching staff. The Barclay’s Premier League is one of the world’s most watched leagues.

Kittivisian Life put some questions to Mr. Barnes.

KL:  This is a fantastic opportunity for the young players in the region; do you think the Caribbean will follow Africa as the next hotbed of talent?

JB:  Professional teams are always on the look out for talent. Witness the composition of most European teams; players are drawn from all over the world, and talent and skill is sought from where ever it can be found.

KL:  How does the St. Kitts U20’s compare with the other island teams you’ve seen so far?

JB:  Very favourable. You expect to see more skill in the bigger islands that have a more developed structure, but the guys here are on a par with any I’ve seen so far.

KL:  Do you foresee a time when international clubs would pay transfer fees to the local clubs of St. Kitts and Nevis?

JB:  Certainly, transfer fees are payable to clubs when players transfer, whether nationally or internationally. As a member of FIFA, the Federation’s Football Association is responsible for ensuring all such matters as transfers fall within FIFA regulations.

KL:  What advice would you give our local Football Association with respect to developing exchange opportunities for our young players?

JB:  Well, the football season is a demanding one, but I’m sure there are opportunities to be explored. During the off-season, it may be possible for teams to take part in exchanges of short duration. Exploring sponsorship opportunities to cover the costs and perhaps twinning with youth development programmes abroad could be possible starting points.

KL:  John, thank you for taking the time to speak to Kittivisian Life and keeping our readers informed.

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