The rich history of Argentine football is merging with the vibrant spirit of the Caribbean in an ambitious new initiative—the Argentine-Caribbean Youth Football: Training of Trainers Programme.
This groundbreaking programme is set to transform the landscape of youth football across the region, using sport as a tool for empowerment, inclusion, and development.
Argentina’s ambassador to Jamaica, Marcelo Balbi Calvo, spoke passionately about the project, which he described as a testament to the unifying power of football.
“This collaboration between Argentina and the Caribbean highlights our shared commitment to human and social development through football,” he said during the programme’s launch at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel on Tuesday.
The ambassador emphasized that the programme’s dual purpose is to enhance technical coaching abilities and inspire young people through the values that football embodies—discipline, teamwork, and respect.
By equipping youth coaches with advanced skills and a holistic understanding of their roles, he believes the initiative will foster positive social transformation.
“Football is more than a game; it’s a platform to learn essential values and a powerful catalyst to keep young people away from crime, providing them with opportunities for personal and professional growth,” Ambassador Balbi Calvo shared.
With Argentina’s three World Cup titles serving as inspiration, Ambassador Balbi Calvo pointed out that the programme aspires to instill a similar drive for excellence in the Caribbean. He expressed heartfelt wishes for the Reggae Boyz in their quest for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Facilitated by the Argentine Fund for International Cooperation (FOAR) and the Organization of American States (OAS), the initiative is part of Argentina’s broader international cooperation strategy and underscores the shared values between Argentina and the Caribbean, bridging geographic divides with a common love for the sport.
The project to include 10 Caribbean countries—Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Jamaica, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and Trinidad and Tobago—will be executed in two phases.
An eight-week virtual theoretical training session is scheduled for February 2025 and will focus on coaching methodologies, sports psychology, and the integration of technology in training.
Meanwhile, an in-person seminar to be hosted in Jamaica in April 2025 is set to serve as the second phase of the project, where selected coaches will participate in a five-day intensive clinic at the UWI/JFF Horace Burrell Centre of Excellence.
Each country will nominate two youth football trainers to participate, ensuring a wide regional impact.
Argentina’s iconic Estudiantes de la Plata Football Club (EDLP), known for producing world-class players and integrating education with sport, will play a central role as the programme’s technical partner. EDLP will share its expertise to elevate coaching standards in the Caribbean.
Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) President Michael Ricketts expressed excitement about the initiative’s potential to elevate coaching standards and strengthen the country’s football infrastructure.
“This programme will be a catalyst for the continued growth and development of our young coaches. Of course, we are hoping that this will be a bilateral arrangement where our coaches will go to Argentina and Argentina coaches will come to Jamaica. We are very, very grateful,” Ricketts said.
Caribbean Football Union (CFU) President Randolph Harris lauded the initiative as a significant step in regional football development, as he too stressed the power of football to unite diverse communities and serve as a vehicle for social inclusion.
“For us, football is part of our development agenda. It moves us from the pasture to the park, offering community and national pride. Football is about participation, and the most basic element is people coming together to play,” Harris stated.
“This powerful tool cuts across all genders, cultures, languages, religions, socioeconomics, politics, or whatever. When we talk about social inclusion, we also talk about accessibility, empowerment, and connectiveness,” he added, as he urged participants to embrace the programme’s vision and share its benefits widely.