A sporting legend in his own life time has rejoined the team for this years Grand Bahama soccer camp.
He will lead the outstanding group of local coaches who will again be passing on their skills and supervising the training of the 200 youngsters who will be taking part.
Luther Blissett, who scored 227 goals in only 596 appearances while playing as a striker in the UKs top soccer division, impressed with his knowledge of the game and its latest coaching techniques when he helped at the camp last year.
The event – recognized as the best value summer time activity for children on the island – is again being supported by the most exciting professional soccer league in the world, the English Premier League.
Each week for nine months of the year its games are watched by around 750 million people worldwide including many tuned into Fox Soccer Channel on satellite and Cable Bahamas here in Grand Bahama.
Fox, who last year provided tents to give the children shady areas during the week, are also again going to support the event.
The kids who take part are given authentic uniforms and also get lunch, fresh fruit morning and afternoon, and the chance to cool off in the swimming pool at the clubhouse of the camp hosts, Freeport Rugby and Football Club.
The camp starts at 9am and is packed with activities until 3pm each day from July 3 to July 7.
Registration forms are available now from Animale clothing store in Port Lucaya, Esquire menswear downtown and Town and Country on Yellow Pine Street as well as from the rugby club on game days.
This will be the third time the English Premier League has sponsored the event and during that time there has been a real resurgence in the game on the island. Its profile has been raised among local children but as their skills have grown they have also enjoyed playing even more.
Luther Blissett, who was born in Jamaica, is very excited to be coming back to Freeport. I had a fantastic time last year. The people are really friendly and it was great to work with such an enthusiastic bunch of kids. I am looking forward to seeing how they have developed in the last 12 months when they have not only had a chance to hone their skills but they have also grown physically.
Also returning to help with the coaching will be Phil French, who used to work as the EPLs head of public affairs but now runs a nationwide organization for soccer supporters in the UK.
Leading Freeport youth coach Mark Hardy said: We are delighted to welcome these guys back. They have both done a great job with local kids and they make the event fun as well as skill building.
Last year a group of youngsters from Abaco joined local players for the week and this year it is likely there will be attendees from Nassau.