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DIGICEL KICK START CLINICS FOOTBALLERS READY FOR SUNDERLAND CHALLENGE
     Talented young footballers are positive ahead of one-week training camp

Sunday, September 21^st 2009 – Sunderland, England: Following their long journey from the Caribbean Island of Jamaica to Sunderland in England, the eight talented young footballers selected by John Barnes, Head Coach of the Digicel Kick Start Clinics, for the one-week training camp at Sunderland AFC’s Academy of Light, are ready and rearing to go.

The training camp kicks off on Monday, September 21^st, and a packed, exciting and entertaining program has been put together by the Academy’s coaching team.

The players have all expressed their delight at being selected from dozens of their peers to train in Sunderland’s Academy and unanimous in describing it as the opportunity of a lifetime. They have already begun to adjust to the conditions in England and have promised to give it their utmost.

Suriname’s Ruiz Dillon Kromoredjo - one of two players selected from Suriname - said he is happy to be in Sunderland and will do his best during the training sessions. “I expect to learn more about the techniques and tactics involved in the game. It’s going to be hard but I know it will be exciting.”

Countryman, Bruce Julianto Diporedjo, described his feelings as very positive: “I think it’s going to be hard but I have prepared for it and I’m looking forward to it.” Diporedjo pointed out that he expects to learn how to control the ball at a faster pace and to learn more about the world’s greatest sport. “Everything that I learn during the training camp, I intend to put into practice to make me a much better footballer.”    

Jamaican, Omar Holness, said he was looking forward to having a fantastic week in England getting a feel for Premier League football and focusing on the rigors of professional training. “I just want to have a good time, meet new friends, and leave here at the end of the week having learnt important new football skills.”

Fellow Jamaican, Paul Wilson, noted that it was a very good feeling to have such a great opportunity made reality by Digicel and the Jamaica Football Federation. “I am here to do the best I can and I’m looking forward to learning as much as I possibly can at Sunderland’s Academy of Light."

Digicel Group Head of Sponsorship, Jamie Dean, said: “On behalf of Digicel, I would like to wish each of the Digicel Kick Start Clinics footballers the very best of luck during their training camp at Sunderland’s Academy of Light. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity for them to train with some of the best coaches in the English Premier League and I hope that they come away with some valuable lessons from their trip to Sunderland.”

The eight players - along with their chaperones - are due to meet with high ranking Sunderland AFC officials prior to the start of training on Monday.

The Digicel Kick Start Clinics in the Caribbean – led by Head Coach John Barnes - were held in six countries (Jamaica, Barbados, Suriname, Haiti, Trinidad & Tobago and St. Kitts & Nevis) in the months of May and June. 

 

ABOUT DIGICEL GROUP

After eight years of operation, Digicel has more than eight million customers across its Caribbean and Central American markets and is renowned for competitive rates, unbeatable coverage, superior customer care, a wide variety of products and services and state-of-the-art handsets. By offering innovative wireless services and community support, Digicel has become a leading brand in the Caribbean and has placed the region at the cutting-edge of wireless communications – the company is also a recent entrant to the Central American market.

Digicel is incorporated in Bermuda and now has operations in 32 markets world-wide. Its Caribbean and Central American markets comprise Anguilla, Antigua & Barbuda, Aruba, Barbados, Bermuda, Bonaire, the British Virgin Islands, the Cayman Islands, Curacao, Dominica, El Salvador, French Guiana, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Martinique, Panama, St Kitts & Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent & the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad & Tobago and Turks & Caicos. The Caribbean company also has coverage in St. Martin and St. Barths. Digicel Pacific comprises Fiji, Nauru, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Tonga and Vanuatu.

Digicel is the lead sponsor of Caribbean, Central American and South Pacific sports teams, including the West Indies Cricket Team, Special Olympics teams throughout the region and national rugby teams in the South Pacific. Digicel is also title sponsor of the Digicel Caribbean Championships and the Copa de Naciones Digicel, which are the Caribbean and Central American qualifiers to the CONCACAF Gold Cup. 

Visit www.digicelgroup.com for more information on Digicel Group.