The Villa Lion Soccer Academy Annual Summer Camp has been in full operation from 1991 to the present. The academy saw its ups and downs in the early stages, but managed to establish its foundation from that year.
The summer camp?s mission is basically to hone the young athletes? talents from an early age which means training the athletes? muscles and minds to master the fundamentals at a certain level so when it is time to move on from the developmental stage, the athletes are versed and have the ability to advance adequately.
The age of the campers ranges from four to 18, but there are presently 2 two-year-olds in the camp eager and ready to learn.
?This programme is really a springboard for the Villa Lion?s Football Club and also for the national team since our players usually possess the skills to play at the highest level,? said coordinator of the academy, Sowerby Gomes.
?Our academy has produced a lot of quality players, like Everton and Garry Gonsalves, Egford, myself and a lot more that blazed the international level right out of this training camp.?
Athletic scholarships opportunities aren?t scare commodities for this camp since the academy has over seven athletes at this present moment attending colleges overseas.
?We don?t look at our students as athletes only, but to us education comes first so there are student before they can be athletes because they can?t do anything without the education. And we are high on good showing, good representation is very significant for our camp,? said Gomes.
After Gomes got a chance to live out his football career, he found it a desire to give back.
The camp is run on an annual basis, starting from 9 am to 1:30 pm at the Antigua Grammar School (AGS) Soccer Field. The academy is in its fourth week and with the addition of Zo