The praise-winners. Local coaches and junior coaches pose with the pro coaches from the UK (in green shirts)

Freeport, Bahamas - A team of young local coaches won the praise of the UK professionals at the end of the 2012 Sir Jack Hayward Grand Bahama Soccer Camp which wrapped up on June 29th  at the Freeport Rugby Football Club.

Work commitments meant that a number of regular helpers over the camp's eight-year history were unable to turn out this year and coach organiser Mary Woodside had to call up a roster which included more junior coaches.

"They really stepped up and did a great job,"  said Andy Edmunds, one of the camp's three visitors from the UK-based Football Association.  Andy, and his colleagues Alan Williams and Sam Griffiths, know what they are talking about as they will be returning to their full-time professional soccer coaching jobs on Monday (July 2).

"With so many young people attending the camp, there is no way you can make it worthwhile for them all unless you have a strong coaching team.  The local guys and girls were outstanding.  The kids seemed to really have a good time and we could see them improving dramatically soccer-wise but none of that would have been possible without the help we had."

Quite a few of the local coaches were themselves graduates of earlier camps and the boys' and girls' programmes on the island.  Some have since sharpened their coaching abilities helping with the girls' developmental soccer league run by Coach Mary Woodside and her husband Coach Donnie Knowles.

"We are really indebted to them all.  It is a tough programme, particularly in the heat , but they all did well," said Coach Mary.

In all, 50 deserving or needy local children received free or supported places during the week-long camp hosted by the Club on East Settlers Way, thanks to a record number of local companies and individuals who chipped in with financial support despite the tough economic situation on the island.

The praise-winners. Local coaches and junior coaches pose with the pro coaches from the UK (in green shirts)

The week concluded with trophy awards.  The winners were:

Overall B est P erformer at C amp - Hugo Alnebeck

Overall B est A ttitude - Edwin Cooper

Overall B est C amp P ersonality - Marissa Vietti

 

Group One (Yo ungest )

Best Player - Sydney Wells

Most Improvement - Adrian Busuioc

Hardest Trier - Kurante Adderley

 

Group Two

Best Player - Nicholas Wallace-Whitfield

Most I mprovement - Dylen Cartwright

Hardest Trier - Kiana Wells

 

Group Three

Best P layer - Tyler Feldman

Most Improvement - Chloe Hamilton

Hardest Trier - Elsa Alnebeck

 

Group Four (Eldest)

Best Player - Luca Borsetto

Most improevemnt - Alexis Hepburn

Hardest Trier - Jhalan Taylor