Blake to host goalkeeper clinic for youngsters

Reggae Boyz Andre Blake has been lending a helping hand to others in goal and is now extending his reach to upcoming goalkeepers in Jamaica.

Blake has an extensive goalkeeping resume and wants to ensure that he plays his part in training the younger goalkeepers to take up his role in the Reggae Boyz and achieve their personal goals. He will host a goalkeeper clinic on Thursday and Friday at the Captain Horace Burrell Centre of Excellence, UWI Mona.

The invite has been extended to two goalkeepers from the top eight schools in the Manning Cup and daCosta Cup.

Blake said this is an exciting venture for him.

"It's something that we are excited about. We are looking forward to it. To give these kids the opportunity to see what it's like and what it takes, first hand, to get to the next level. I think that's a big deal," the three-time Major League Soccer (MLS) Goalkeeper-of-the-Year said.

Blake, who is the longest-tenured player, with 231 combined MLS regular season and Audi MLS Cup Playoffs appearances since being drafted from the University of Connecticut in 2014, will be joined by his coaches, Phil Wheddon and Robert Beckford, alongside several Jamaican coaches, to impart a wealth of knowledge to the youngsters.

This is just the start of something Blake hopes to improve and impact more aspiring professional goalkeepers from the island.

"We want to focus more on quality rather than quantity. We want to start with a smaller number that's manageable so we can impose ourselves on these kids and share the knowledge and experience that we have. Hopefully, in the future, we can get to 150 kids. I think this is a good number to start with and go from there," said the former Clarendon College player. "Hopefully, it is something that can grow. It's a start. We're trying to take a look and identify some potential and see where we can go from there."

Goalkeeping knowledge is not all that the students will benefit from.

"Gears and gloves will be provided. Hopefully, they won't have to go into their pockets for anything," he said.

To add to his accolades, Blake is a four-time MLS All-Star and last year, won the John Wanamaker Athletic Award, presented to the athlete, team, or organisation that has done the most to reflect credit upon Philadelphia and the team or sport in which they excel. He is the first men's football player to receive the award since it began in 1961.

Blake said he believes Jamaica will continue to produce quality goalkeepers.