BALLAZ International Liberty Park Turf, a premier facility focused on youth development through football, was officially opened at the Liberty Academy at the Priory High School Department last Wednesday.

Liberty Park Turf has two mini-sized, artificial football fields.

The Liberty Park Turf, which is the brainchild of Andre Virtue, who is also a director of Ballaz International, attracted many sponsors who have assisted in the development over the years prior to its official opening on Wednesday.

Virtue, in speaking at the official opening, said, “We are all here to launch Liberty Park Turf, a premier facility that will continue development in and through football. We are excited to launch this new programme and to give freedom of expression through football to many, many Jamaican children — starting with those here at Liberty — who have untapped potential in and through football,” Virtue said.

He said Ballaz International is a football-based organisation which aims to mold, develop talent and build the character of each youth who participates in any development programme.

“Ballaz was founded in 2002, and it encourages and instils character, attitude, teamwork, discipline, leadership and zeal in each and every programme, each and every year, affecting the lives of over 800 youth each year and 6,000 youth since the organisation was founded,” said Virtue.

The former Jamaica College footballer added that for 13 years, Ballaz has sought to live true to their motto — the individual, the family, the community, changing the world one goal at a time.

“We have done so only through collaboration with some amazing partners and friends over the years,” he said.

Meanwhile, Allie McNab — who is a special advisor to Olivia Grange, minister of sport, and who is also a former Cornwall College, Boys’ Town and Jamaican footballer — said he was very excited by the fantastic facility provided by Virtue to assist the youth.

“Kids must have fun or else they will never learn. The parents, too, should come to the facility with their youth and also enjoy and see the development process, where the kids will be taught the right techniques of football,” McNab said.

He also hailed Ballaz Liberty Park for not only catering to the various age groups, but also to youth with special needs. “Sport is character-building and it also changes the world.

“The youth will get the right teaching to strive for excellence in order to achieve or reach the top in football,” said McNab. “It is really a fitting move by Ballaz to also cater to coaches and players to develop their skills.”

Neville Bell, coach of St George’s College, was the keynote speaker at the launch, and said it is a wonderful facility and the playing surfaces are much better than many football fields in the island.

He said Jamaica needs many more facilities in the island so that the players, from a young age, will have their skills and techniques developed on good surfaces.

Virtue mentioned that at Ballaz, players and families alike enter into an environment rooted in love, where their children can be introduced to, continue to develop and excel in the sport of football.

Meanwhile, local manufacturing giant, LASCO Manufacturing has invested over $5 million in a two-year sponsorship to Ballaz International to facilitate youth development programmes.

LASCO’s Marketing Manager Catherine Goodhall shared that her company takes pride in the enhancement of the youth, and partnering with an initiative like the Ballaz programme gives her company another venue to assist.

“Ballaz is a rounded programme that helps with not only the physical development, but also social, mental and spiritual development of their players. We are honoured to be able to facilitate this process through financial support, scholarships, and, of course, through helping to provide great nutrition for players with our brand, LASCO Food Drink,” Goodall said.

Suzanne Williams, principal of Liberty Academy School, was pleased with the occasion as she was part of the brainchild assistance for the programme from the inception.