The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

After a successful summer camp debut, Quality Beach Soccer Academy looks to extend its reach to a year-round programme.

The group, spearheaded by national team members Ehren Hanna and Christopher Davis, is slated to host the programme September 2 to November 30 at the Malcolm Park Beach Soccer Complex – at the foot of the Sir Sidney Poitier Bridge.

Open to both boys and girls ages 9-17, session times will be hosted 4pm-6pm Mondays and Wednesdays.

The development of beach soccer in the Bahamas was relatively uncharted territory just a few short years ago. Nowadays, with the country boasting the top ranked programme in the region, the group looks to capitalise on that momentum.

Its mission statement, issued in a press release, said the QBSA is “aimed at giving young developmental players an opportunity to develop their soccer skills year round.”

“We have seen the need to give the youth an opportunity to increase the amoint and level of training they get per week. The average Bahamian youth soccer player only recicves about 3-4 hours per week training, when regional and global competitors train an average of 8-10 hours per week. We guarantee that after completing this intense training, each player will leave as more technically skilled player. In addition, tactical awareness will be improved and overall understanding on what it takes to become an elite athlete will continue to grow and develop,” they said in the press release.

“After recently competing in the World Cup qualifier, held here in Nassau, a few teammates and I decided that we would try to develop the sport as much as we can, so this summer we instituted Quality Beach Soccer Academy. The mission is to increase local awareness in the sport, increase local participation, because really we have something that Bahamians don’t realise is world class,” Hanna said.

“We have a world-class facility and a team that is actually No.1 in the Caribbean so it is the perfect opportunity to start developing young players very early. We found a strength and now we are looking to get the youth involved and take it to the next level because the young players, coming up and playing it all their lives are going to be better than the generation before. We have some really talented young players coming up and all of them may not be able to play on the grass, so we bring them on the sand and give them the option to play.”

Approximately a dozen student athletes attended the inaugural edition of the camp.

“We plan to increase numbers and what we actually want to do is take the programme to the schools. If we can have a demonstration where we can try and bring some of the schools in and also connect with the urban renewal programme it would be a major feat for us. We want as many kids as possible to become involved because soccer as a team sport helps with your social skills and it’s just a good way to get some energy and have fun,” Hanna said.

“So we are looking for people who might have youth programmes that are looking for activities for their kids to do, to reach out to us and partner with us.”

In May, the Bahamas finished sixth overall in the 2013 CONCACAF Beach Soccer Championship. A single goal was the difference between the Bahamas reaching the semifinal round and playing a match with a berth to the World Cup on the line.

Christopher Davis is the national team goalie but was injured for the World Cup qualifier.

“The potential for where this sport can go is incredible and this is one of the first steps in making sure we reach that potential,” he said. “We just want to bring in as much new players to the sport as possible and expose them to the game and the opportunities it can present.”

The event was sponsored by several private entities and the Bahamas Football Association.

Interested persons can contact the QBSA at 325-8136/395-5072 or email at qualitybeachsocceracademy@gmail.com