Jamaica’s national football team captain, Andre Blake, has hailed the first-ever Andre Blake Goalkeeper Clinic as a resounding success.
The two-day clinic took place at the JFF/Captain Horace Burrell Centre of Excellence on December 14 and 15, attracting over 20 goalkeepers from the Manning and daCosta Cup, along with two female goalkeepers from the Reinas Academy.
This invitational clinic provided aspiring goalkeepers with the opportunity to receive world-class training from a roster of accomplished coaches. The coaching team featured Phil Wheddon, coach of Blake’s Philadelphia Union, Andrew Sewell, Jamaica’s Under-20 Goalkeeper coach, Neo Oxford from the Reinas Academy, Robert Beckford from Kingston College, and senior Reggae Boy Jahmali Waite.
Seizing opportunities
For Blake, the clinic’s success was evident in the commitment and focus displayed by all the participants. He expressed his hope that the goalkeepers would return to their respective clubs and schools equipped with a deeper understanding of the areas they need to improve in order to reach the next level in their careers.
Blake, who has experience playing at the highest level, shared his knowledge and emphasized the importance of seizing opportunities to help talented individuals who might otherwise go unnoticed. He stressed the value of enhancing both national and personal development through initiatives like this.
The clinic’s training regimen encompassed various aspects of goalkeeping, including handling, diving, cutbacks, repositioning, functional play, and an increased focus on footwork, given the evolving nature of goalkeeping.
Participants spoke highly of the clinic
Participants spoke highly of the clinic, with Clarendon College’s starting goalkeeper, Roshae Burrell, commending Blake’s coaching skills and describing Coach Phil as an excellent mentor.
Hydel High’s Tajarie Lee expressed gratitude for the valuable lessons learned during the clinic, vowing to apply them to his future training and matches.
National Under-20 Coach Andrew Sewell, who served both as a teacher and a student during the clinic, praised the professional and top-notch experience. He commended Blake for taking the initiative to organize such a much-needed event.
The Andre Blake Goalkeeper Clinic was made possible through the generous support of organizations like the JFF, ISSA, The Sagicor Foundation, Spectrum Systems, PrintWare Tech, Tru Shake, Powerade, Wata, Courtyard Marriott Hotel, Leep Marketing, and Uhlsport.
