| The Anguilla Football Association has been particularly pleased this week that three professional women players from the United States found it possible to come to the island to conduct a two-week soccer camp for school children from four years up. Their visit was arranged by Thomas Kelly, who recently set up the Anguilla Sports Foundation to assist Anguillian youth. |
The coaches are Natalie Spilger, Soccer League player with the Chicago Red Stars; Temryss Lane, Player for Ajax of America; and Sheuneen Ta, former Arsenal FC and England U-19 National Team Player.  ADVERTISEMENT
They were welcomed by RawleHazell, Second Vice President of the Anguilla Football Association. He said that the camp, in basic soccer drills, was first held at Blowing Point fifteen years ago. Last year the camp was sponsored by Caribbean Lottery, but this year it is being funded by the Football Association.
The coaches, who began playing soccer at a young age, expressed delight to be in Anguilla to contribute to the development of the children. Temryss Lake, who has been playing soccer for 25 years, recalled some of the benefits which she received from the sport and which she the Anguillian youngsters can also have. “As a female, it gave me so much confidence not just on the field, but in life and in the classroom and as a business now,” she stated. “What I would say is the most important thing for these kids to take away is the skill, the confidence and competition it gives them and something to look forward to.
For me, it is the passion and I think that even if they don’t choose soccer as a path, then they can take what they have learned and use it for other things in terms of discipline.” |
