Football goals for Barbados
When thinking of Barbados, images of Caribbean dream beaches, palm trees and sunshine usually come to mind – not football. But our football goals are helping to promote the sport across the island. Since 2010, THE BREWSTER TRUST has been dedicated to developing grassroots football in Barbados. The focus is on children and young people who, through training, gain not just enjoyment but also essential social values such as respect, fair play, discipline and teamwork. How delivering 160 football goals to Central America became a logistical challenge – and how the children on site reacted to their new goals – you’ll find out here.
Support from renowned partners
Ensuring the projects are implemented professionally is a top priority for the organizers. A key partnership with FC Arsenal and Arsenal in the Community allows qualified coaches to train local colleagues in Barbados. Another vital element is the “Memorandum of Understanding” with the Barbados Football Association (BFA), which supports the development of a solid infrastructure for football on the island – including match equipment such as goals and corner flags.
Improving training standards
There are also plans to make training sessions more professional. Equipment such as hurdles, marker cones, slalom poles, Aero-Steps, free-kick mannequins and agility ladders – standard kit for most clubs in Europe – are often hard to come by in Barbados.
Sport-Thieme – your partner for complete sports equipment
“To achieve our goal, we were looking for a full-range supplier for sports equipment. Of course, football was our main priority – but the quality and professional gear from Sport-Thieme helped us think bigger,” explains Axel Bernhardt, the German managing director of THE BREWSTER TRUST. An idea that was warmly welcomed in Grasleben: Sport-Thieme supported the project by offering a generous discount on the 160 football goals.
Logistical challenges and joy on arrival
Shipping the goals by sea was a unique adventure, which concluded successfully in spring 2012 when the equipment arrived safely. A total of 53 institutions – including football clubs, sports centers, schools, local communities, government organizations, churches and even private households – benefited from this donation.
As Axel Bernhardt recalls: “In just four intensive days, we managed to supply most of the 11 municipalities. There was huge excitement and surprise at how lightweight and easy to handle the goals were. For many children, it was their first time seeing a real goal.” While the young players were overjoyed, the project organizers were already considering how to continue the successful partnership.
Continuing the success story
In the 2014 Holiday Camp, 511 children and teenagers took part in a varied football program. Thanks to support from partners such as PUMA, UNICEF and Arsenal FC, they were kitted out with jerseys, boots and more. But most importantly – there were no serious injuries throughout the entire event.
More from Sport-Thieme
Discover more exciting projects such as our Snoezelen rooms in South Korea or the Sport-Thieme truck in Hong Kong.
