Caribbean Football Union (CFU) president Randolph Harris, who also leads the Barbados Football Association (BFA) has expressed his full support for the Argentine-Caribbean Youth Football: Training of Trainers Programme, an ambitious new initiative that combines the rich history of Argentine football with the vibrant spirit of the Caribbean.
Barbados will be one of 10 territories to benefit from this programme, which aims to transform the landscape of youth football across the region, using sport as a tool for empowerment, inclusion, and development. Harris lauded the initiative as a significant step in regional football development, as he stressed the power of football to unite diverse communities and serve as a vehicle for social inclusion.
“For us, football is part of our development agenda. It moves us from the pasture to the park, offering community and national pride. Football is about participation, and the most basic element is people coming together to play,” Harris stated.
“This powerful tool cuts across all genders, cultures, languages, religions, socioeconomics, politics, or whatever. When we talk about social inclusion, we also talk about accessibility, empowerment, and connectiveness,” he added, as he urged participants to embrace the programme’s vision and share its benefits widely.
Argentina’s ambassador to Jamaica, Marcelo Balbi Calvo, also spoke passionately about the project, which was launched this week at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel. Ambassador Calvo reiterated that the programme is a testament to the unifying power of football.
“This collaboration between Argentina and the Caribbean highlights our shared commitment to human and social development through football,” he said, as he emphasised that the programme’s dual purpose is to enhance technical coaching abilities and inspire young people through the values that football embodies—discipline, teamwork, and respect.
By equipping youth coaches with advanced skills and a holistic understanding of their roles, he believes the initiative will foster positive social transformation.
“Football is more than a game; it’s a platform to learn essential values and a powerful catalyst to keep young people away from crime, providing them with opportunities for personal and professional growth,” Ambassador Balbi Calvo shared.
With Argentina’s three World Cup titles serving as inspiration, Ambassador Calvo pointed out that the programme aspires to instill a similar drive for excellence in the Caribbean.
Facilitated by the Argentine Fund for International Cooperation (FOAR) and the Organization of American States (OAS), the initiative is part of Argentina’s broader international cooperation strategy and underscores the shared values between Argentina and the Caribbean, bridging geographic divides with a common love for the sport.
The project to include 10 Caribbean countries—Antigua & Barbuda, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Jamaica, St Kitts & Nevis, Saint Lucia, St Vincent & the Grenadines, and Trinidad & Tobago—will be executed in two phases.
An eight-week virtual theoretical training session is scheduled for February 2025 and will focus on coaching methodologies, sports psychology, and the integration of technology in training.
Meanwhile, an in-person seminar to be hosted in Jamaica in April 2025 is set to serve as the second phase of the project, where selected coaches will participate in a five-day intensive clinic at the UWI/JFF Horace Burrell Centre of Excellence.
Each country will nominate two youth football trainers to participate, ensuring a wide regional impact.
(SportsMax)
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