A FIFA talent scout has praised the quality and potential of Dominica’s young footballers following the successful staging of the Dominica Football Association’s (DFA) Grassroots Academy Festival.
The one-day event, held at the DFA Technical Centre, brought together young players from accredited football academies across the island as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen youth football development and identify future national talent.
FIFA Talent Scout Kurt Herd, who attended the festival, said he was impressed by both the number of participants and the technical ability displayed by the young players.
“Over 170 players were on the field today,” Herd noted. “It really takes you back when you see the passion for the game, the number of players playing and the technical ability of some of these people. It’s fantastic. It really gives you a lot of hope for the future.“
Herd explained that events such as the Grassroots Academy Festival are crucial because they provide technical officials with valuable opportunities to observe players in a competitive environment and identify promising talent for the National Football Academy.
According to the FIFA scout, regular access to young players is essential in building a strong player development pathway and ensuring that emerging talent is not overlooked.
“It’s very difficult for us to get out and actually watch these players with no real football being played at that level,” Herd said, adding that festivals like this allow scouts and coaches to assess players while they are interacting with teammates and coaches in a natural setting.
DFA President Glen Etienne also commended the football academies for their work, describing the festival as evidence that significant progress is being made in youth football development across Dominica.
Etienne said the continued development of organized grassroots programmes will play an important role in strengthening the national game in the years ahead.
DFA Technical Director Jerome Badwill explained that the association has been working with grassroots structures around the island for several months with the goal of ensuring that academies meet minimum standards of operation and provide quality training environments for young players.
Officials say the festival also served as a talent identification exercise, particularly for the recruitment of new players into the National Football Academy, including a new group of young female players.
The DFA believes that sustained investment in grassroots football will be essential to producing future national team players and ensuring the long-term growth of football in Dominica.
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