More scholarship opportunities for Barbados Soccer Academy
The Barbados Soccer Academy (BSA) is looking forward to obtaining a possible 10 more scholarships by August 2018 after a successful Coconut Court Beach Hotel Soccer Showcase.
From the outcome of the recent showcase, which was held at the Usain Bolt Complex, BSA members Rashad Grant, Dario Greaves and Ocean Sobers-Henry were very outstanding in their soccer performance on the field. As a result, Ocean Sobers-Henry has the opportunity of accepting a full scholarship for August 2017 at a University in the State of Tennessee in the United States while Grant has had two offers from NCAA Division 1 Universities for August 2018.
Grant, an attacking midfielder, is in the process of completing his CXC certificates and SAT examinations in order to be eligible. Dario Greaves, a student of Queen’s College, is awaiting the letter of intent from another top university in Massachusetts. With the upcoming soccer showcase in November later this year, and the BSA’s annual tour in December to showcases in Fort Lauderdale, IMG and Disney, many doors will be open for BSA members.
Jabez “Jack” Bovell, CEO of the BSA, said that if any player is thinking of joining the BSA, they should come prepared to be a student athlete. Almost all BSA players seeking academic and soccer scholarships in the USA start in third form at their local high school doing the core subjects that are required according to NCAA rules for eligibility.
BSA is also looking forward to inviting many college teams to Barbados to play friendly or competitive matches at the Usain Bolt Complex at the University of the West Indies and the Barbados Football Association Astro Turf in Wildey. The first team is expected to arrive in January 2018.
The Academy is proud of its short and distinctive athletics history. The key to its success is based on the fact that the commitment to student-athletes is central, uncompromising and achieved within the highest academic and ethical standards. In support of the broader BSA Mission Statement, the organisation’s mission complements and enhances the development of the total person. It also strives to create a supportive community that fosters the intellectual, spiritual, emotional, social and physical attributes of the participating students, staff and colleagues. This sports vision, which is aimed at propelling local athletes, also embraces the rules and regulations of the National Association and the tournaments in which they participate.
The BSA Mission Statement outlines the provision of a soccer experience of exceptional quality to students of high academic potential with particular emphasis upon the provision of educational opportunities to promising students. Strategies involve inviting USA University and college coaches to Barbados and also to travel and compete against regional and international teams to expose the talented young players.
BSA meets every Saturday morning at the Combermere School, and any person interesting in joining can call the BSA at 8500377.