WILLEMSTAD – Young football players in Curaçao will have an opportunity to showcase their talent to scouts from American professional club Miami FC during a free three-day training camp on the island next month.
The camp will take place on October 13, 14 and 15 and is open to young players between the ages of 11 and 17.
Scouts will be present throughout the program to identify promising local players. Participants who stand out could potentially earn a scholarship with Miami FC, the club where Curaçao national team goalkeeper Eloy Room currently plays.
The initiative is being organized by sports foundation FDDK in cooperation with 10X Sports and Next Level.
Participation in a similar training program would normally cost approximately XCG 300, but organizers have decided to make the Curaçao camp completely free, removing a potential financial barrier for young players and their families.
Besides identifying talent, the organizers want to broaden the perspective of Curaçao’s young footballers about opportunities to develop their careers abroad.
For many aspiring players on the island, Europe has traditionally been regarded as the main route toward professional football. The organizers want youngsters to recognize that opportunities also exist closer to home, particularly in the rapidly developing football market in the United States and the wider region.
The presence of Miami FC scouts gives participants an opportunity not only to receive professional training but also to demonstrate their abilities directly to representatives of an established professional club.
For Curaçao, which continues to produce footballers capable of competing internationally, the camp could provide another pathway for the island’s next generation of talent to take an important step toward professional football.