4 weeks ago
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COACHES FROM more than 35 colleges and universities in the United States are scheduled to scout for players and offer scholarship opportunities, through the Caribbean Premier Showcase (CPS), that will be held over three days at three locations across the island come January 2025.
The CPS was founded two years ago with the goal of connecting football players with college coaches in expanding opportunities for Jamaican athletes.
The showcase began under another name and started only at St Elizabeth Technical High School for all male football players in Jamaica.
That year the CPS team was invited to the islands of Grenada and Trinidad and Tobago to bring the same opportunities for their high school football athletes. Shortly after these stagings, the showcases were rebranded to CPS reflecting the organisation’s commitment to the wider Caribbean.
Rajay Maragh, chief operating officer and managing partner at CPS, said the major objective is bringing players and coaches together to create opportunities for recruitment. Players, he said, get to show their skills live, interact with coaches, gather information and processes, all with the intention of securing a scholarship to study and play overseas.
“The process is heavily based on the coaches whereas the showcase is not limited to anyone local school or conference but rather each athlete is given the same access, playing time and information to showcase their talent. Once completed, coaches will reach out after, gather additional data and also create a player profile of how they wish to proceed,” Maragh said.
“There is also the academic check which takes place after. Each school has their own admission processes and requirements, which create the second stage of follow-up to make sure the student is eligible for recruitment,” he added.
All the members of the CPS team received academic and sports scholarship at some point to attend and/or player football overseas. Maragh said they understood the value, the complexity and the opportunities showcases like CPS can create and felt the need to pass it on, as it is important for the continuity and development of the region.
CONFIRMED COLLEGES
Colleges confirmed, so far, include Iowa Western College CC, Wright State University (NCAA D1), Eastern Kentucky University (NCAA D1), Pearl River CC, Tougaloo College CC, NYU, UCON (NCAA D1), Comberland University (NA1A), Lincoln University (NCAA DII), Concordia (NCAA D2), Missouri Valley NAIA, New College Florida (NA1A), Baker University (NA1A), Johnson County CC, Lindenwood University (NCAA D1), Missouri State University, Keiser University NAIA, Hampton University (women’s football NCAA D1), Maine Maritime University (women football NCAA D3), Ruben Gap (high school), Broward College (CC), Hill College (CC), Ranger College (CC), Allen (CC), Southeastern (CC), NIU (NCAA D1), Fairleigh Dickinson University (NCAA D1), Daytona Beach (CC), North Eastern Community College (CC), Daemen College (CC), and Central Community College (CC).
Professional clubs include Atlanta United, Houston Dynamo and CSF Spartanii Sportul (Moldovan Super League).
The CPS will be held on January 8, 2025 at the St Elizabeth Technical High School on January 9 at the Captain Horace Burrell Centre of Excellence in Kingston, and on January 11, in association with the Inter Secondary Schools Sports Association (ISSA), All daCosta Cup versus All Manning Cup teams.
Maragh said their team, while focused on the Caribbean, has been invited to help with other showcases this past May in Athlone, Ireland and next year in Portugal, Grenada, Trinidad and Tobago, and Bermuda.
The application process is now open and athletes can register online at carribeanpremiershowcase.com.
Persons interested in being a part of the project can email: soccer@caribbeanpremiershowcase.com.
English (US) ·