Claro pumps $3m into Phoenix Academy
THE synergy between telecommunications giant Claro Jamaica and local football has deepened as the company has forged a sponsorship deal with the emerging Phoenix All Stars Football Academy (PAFA).
The sponsorship, which values over $3 million, came a week before the Academy’s activities for 2010 began on Monday, December 28, 2009.
It will cover training camps and other player developmental programmes, inclusive of clinics, workshops and tournaments.
Arguably one of the island’s top youth football developmental organisations, PAFA has gained international attention, having been invited to participate in the prestigious World Youth tournament, ‘The Norway Cup 2010’, to be held in Oslo from August 1-7, 2010.
“Claro is committed to helping Jamaica’s youth realise their true potential and the sport of football has proven to be a very effective strategy in doing so”, says marketing officer Latoy Williams.
President of PAFA, Craig Butler, says, “The fact that Claro has come on board before anybody else shows us that Claro is about the development of the people.”
PAFA players now have their football boots, adequate balls and the necessary support to carry the Academy well into 2010.
“We already have eight players selected to play professionally in Europe, and this recent sponsorship will motivate the others,” says Butler.
Claro has also sponsored the Kick It ’09 Christmas Football Camp, which is run by former national player Wolde Harris.
Meanwhile, the Claro-sponsored Phoenix All Stars Football Academy (PAFA) is hosting the final day of training for its Winter Camp at the University of Technology (UTech) field on Saturday.
The session will mark the end of a week of activities that have been preparing the Academy’s core Under-17, Under-15 and Under-13 players for an introduction to professional football early next year, as well as the new players who have joined the ever increasing body of youth footballers.
As usual, the session will be carried out by Serbian international scout, Milan Dovedan.