The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

For the fourth consecutive year, the organisers of the Bahamas Bowl treated the aspiring Bahamian young men and women to a youth clinic.

And every year, Chris Merritt said the enthusiasm level gets better and better. This year’s camp was held on the field in front of the original Thomas A Robinson Track and Field Stadium.

Merritt, the head coach of Columbus High School in Miami, Florida, was on hand to conduct the clinic as the regional southeast master trainer for the USA.

“This is a lot of fun that I get to come over and do this event,” Merritt said. “I love to watch football grow in other countries and I have a passion for it, so it’s great to see the kids embrace the sport.”

During the clinic, featuring players from both the Toledo Rockets and the Florida International University Panthers who are here to play in the Makers Wanted Bahamas Bowl game tomorrow, the youngsters were given a number of football drills.

They went through the football stance, how to throw the ball and how to run backyards - three positions that are key recipes for aspiring football players to know and execute.

Merritt said it was a great turnout and he’s looking forward to coming back next year.

Mitchell Guadagni, a 6-foot, 2-inch junior quarter-back for Toledo, said he was just happy to be a part of the clinic in the Bahamas where the “weather is so beautiful and the sun is always out.”

As for the clinic, Guadagni said he witnessed a lot of talent and he was thrilled to be able to assist the youngsters. He hopes that they can come out and cheer on their team on Friday.

“I’ve never been outside of the country, so it was nice to come here and see how everybody lives,” Guadagni said. “It’s just awesome being here and experiencing all of this.”

His rival DeAndre Williams, who represents FIU, said he feels as if he’s right at home here, coming out of Florida.

“It’s good that we can help people who want to learn some new things,” he said. “I once was in their shoes and someone was trying to help me out with the things they are doing, so it’s been good.”

Williams said he wishes he can stay here a little longer, but he said they have a mission to accomplish and that is to win the bowl game after falling short in another appearance last year.

For a number of the youngsters, the clinic provided them with an opportunity to learn more about the game.

Jadian Lightbourne, a 14-year-old ninth grader at AF Adderley Junior High, said he was glad that the guidance counsellor at his school encouraged him to attend the camp.

“I like the way they play American football,” said Lightbourne, a sprinter. “They have similar stance as track and field, so I caught on rather quickly with what they were doing.”

Torres Ingraham, the 19-year-old former basketball and track star at Queen’s College, is now at Fort Scott Community College in Kansas after he transferred from Independence Community College where he played football.

“This was a lot of fun. FIU is real close to us being right across the water, so I just want to come out here and try to get better and hopefully get a scholarship to continue to play the game,” he said.

“They taught us very well. The players did a good job of teaching us the basics of the game. I’m enjoying it. I like what I see in the camp.”

Sheaderon Thompson, an eight-year-old third grader at CW Sawyer, said he came to the camp because he wanted to play the game. “I learned how to play football,” he said. “They taught me how to throw the football, stand and catch. I hope I can play more often. But I like running track.”

Even the girls enjoyed their participation in the clinic.

Isabella Hoscumbe, an eight-year-old third grader at St Andrew’s School, said she likes football because her father takes her to watch a game every year.

“I learned how to run backwards and stop,” said the tennis player. “It was a lot of fun.”

Evon Wisdom, sports officer in the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, was elated to see the response from the youngsters. “We didn’t want something where the kids just came out and they were not inspired,” Wisdom said. “They were able to see, feel and touch these young men and get to know them.

“We have to get football into our schools, whether it’s just on a trial basis on a Friday night. It’s something that we have to do because we can inspire more young people to play another sport other than basketball and volleyball.”

Wisdom said what was even more encouraging was to see how the players from the two teams interacted with the young people.

The players all received tickets to attend the Makers Wanted Bahamas Bowl game 12:30pm Friday at the Thomas A Robinson National Stadium.