West Ham Academy of the United States and England held their first ever Summers Skills camp at the Bermuda Football Association field this week. A total of (105) youngsters participated during the one week training camp under the guidance of Mark Phillips, U13 Coach and Manager of West Ham United (UK), Mike Keller (USA), James Meara (UK) , and Dave Hunt(USA).
The coaches provided two sessions per day, one in the morning, ages (8-12) followed by the second in the afternoon for ages (13-16) years old. This gave the coaches a great opportunity to scout young player(s) who have the opportunity to par-take in a one week training session at West Ham United later this year.
History was being made for the Bermuda Football Association and West Ham United, when midfielder Amar Lewis of Dandy Town Hornets and a member of the BFA Academy 1998 program was selected by the West Ham coaches to become the first player to be selected to travel to West Ham’s Academy for another Training Camp.
Mark Phillips, U13 Coach for West Ham United said, “He has awareness on the field with the ball, he also has outstanding balance with the football and general football ability, he moves well without it and he was the stand out of the group. The purpose for him coming to West Ham is to gain experience during the week, instill the knowledge and come back a better player for himself and Bermuda. By having an Academy program it only provides another avenue for the islands young players to prosper.” Phillips has been working with West Ham United for the past five (5) years and prior to that spent three (3) years at Arsenal.
As for young Lewis, who attends Warwick Academy, was surprised to have been selected by the coaches. “I am happy to have been chosen to be a part of the West Ham United Academy program.” Earlier this summer I spent time in Florida playing football and preparing myself for West Ham coming to Bermuda.
This is a great opportunity not only for Lewis but future player(s) of tomorrow. Clearly, it shows Bermuda has the talent; and by having West Ham United spend one 1 week with our young player(s). This only highlights the hard work and dedication coaches of the BFA National Academy put in with our players.
The coaching staff of West Ham United wraps up their one week session with the players today, they then return to their respective destination in the United States and England.
Before parting, the coaches of West Ham said “that they envision next year’s camp to bigger and better, for this is the West Ham way.”
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