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Fri, Mar

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Three former top international footballers, Reggae Boyz Robbie Earle, Frenchman Frank Leboeuf and Trinidad and Tobago's goalkeeper Shaka Hislop, are among the big names here for the Flow/ESPN football clinic in Montego Bay.

The three are among a significant group of star footballers, which include Stern John, Uche Okafor and Andrew Orsatti, brought in by the sport broadcaster in collaboration with the broadband provider.

"More than 40 coaches and more than 100 youngsters from in and around Montego Bay will benefit from the expertise of these football personalities," boasted Flow's Director of Marketing Sharon Roper at a press conference at the Half Moon hotel in the Second City.

The clinics will be held at the Trelawny Multi-purpose Stadium today and tomorrow. Excited to be back in Jamaica, former national player Robbie Earle, who struck the first goal for Jamaica against Croatia at the 1998 World Cup, said he was happy to be here to give back to Jamaica and to ensure that the skills of young players were developed so that there could be many future football great emerging from the island.

Flow technology

According to Roper, Flow will also use its technology to ensure a continuation of training and assessments via digital technology and the Internet in-between clinics.

ESPN's Totlyn Mason, who has responsibility for the region, spoke of the clinics being an integral part of her company's investment in the region, which is to help to foster and expose excellence in the sporting arena.

The clinics are a part of a blitz weekend that will take place in Montego Bay and includes live taping of ESPN shows and the Ocean Style/ESPN Golf Invitational at Half Moon.

In the meantime, guest speaker at the launch, Minister of Tourism Edmund Bartlett, described the initiative as one that was a very important part of the overall tourism product.

He noted that people gravitated to their passion, and alluded to developing sports as part of the overall Jamaican attraction. The minister also commended ESPN and Flow for their focus on youth, and for dedicating their resources to hone excellence in young Jamaica.