Twenty-nine (29) up and coming youth footballers between the ages of 13 and 16 had their skills put to the test over the weekend at the Flow Ultimate Football Experience, a competition put together by Flow and Manchester United Football Club and supported by the Caribbean Football Union (CFU). The girls and boys vied for the chance to participate in a talent development football camp in Trinidad and possibly win a VIP trip that includes touring Old Trafford and viewing a Manchester United home game. In the end, it was Dylan Ayer, 13 and Sydnee Campbell, 15 – the only girl to make it through to the finals – who best demonstrated the abilities needed to compete with 28 other ballers from the 14 Flow markets around the Caribbean.
Local coaches Olivia Graveley, Dane Ritchie, Fraser Park, Gillian Vernice, Mark Parish and Daz Meehan put the kids through their paces at the National Academy Field in a series of challenges that tested their dribbling, short passing and control capabilities. The programme was specially designed for the Flow Ultimate Football Experience by coaches at the Manchester United Soccer School, and the 29 talented footballers were chosen by their clubs and/or school coaches.
Dylan and Sydnee, along with their coaches, will now advance to a two-day skills session in Trinidad and Tobago to experience one-on-one training with CFU and Manchester United Soccer School coaches (MUSS). Both the coaches and athletes will participate in a series of drills designed by MUSS and compete for the trip to the world-famous football stadium.
“I am exceptionally proud of the turnout and performance put on by the young footballers this past weekend. I must also commend the parents that stayed for the duration of the event to show support to the athletes. A big congratulations to Dylan and Sydnee who were evidently superb throughout each of the drills and no doubt deserve this accomplishment,” shared Flow Marketing & Communications Executive, Darron Hilaire.
“To have the only female selected out of fourteen Caribbean countries says a lot about our Women’s programme on the island. Sydnee is a very dedicated and special talent and I believe she will be the future captain for our nation team.”
“Dylan, one of the youngest players at the event at only 13 year olds, scored the highest points out of all the players from across the region, excels at all sports. He has a huge future in football. Having personally coached both players, I believe we have a very good chance that if not both, one should go through to the finals in Manchester,” shared Technical Director for the TCIFA, Daz Meehan.
Certificates were presented to each participant and the two winners each received a trophy. 
The Flow Ultimate Football Experience is one of several Manchester United and Flow partnership initiatives. In January, Flow hosted the FA Cup Caribbean Tour which gave football fans up-close and unprecedented access to football’s most coveted trophy. The final leg of the tour culminated in the Cayman Islands, where Manchester United ambassador Dwight Yorke made an appearance.
Flow Ultimate Football Experiences are taking place in Curacao, Cayman Islands, Montserrat, Trinidad, Jamaica, BVI, Antigua, Barbados, Grenada, St. Vincent, St. Lucia, Anguilla, St. Kitts and Dominica.
Cable and Wireless is Manchester United’s telecommunications partner in the Caribbean.
