September 2, 2003
Cayman National Players Awarded Scholarships

Four young footballers were rewarded with football and academic scholarships to pursue further education in the United States earlier this year. This makes a grand total of nine National Team players overseas on scholarship.

Ijon Neil, Trevor Gibbs, Ariel Tatum and Andres Webb have all by now departed for varying colleges across the continental USA. They are joining five others: Tuda Murphy, Otis Myles, Junio Hurlston, Ian Lindo and Jamie Johnson. CIFA President Jeffrey Webb has a tremendous sense of pleasure seeing these youngsters strive for excellence, "It is a real thrill to see nine of our young players awarded with both football and academic scholarships. It says a lot about football in the Cayman Islands and also a lot about these youngsters and their clubs - some of which arranged their trials and scouts visits. We wish them all the best and will continue to support them in their endeavors."

Though pleased to see these players off Webb warns that we must strive to be realistic, “The greatest gift that any one can give another person is an education. While every footballer dreams of playing professionally in reality there are 250,000,000 football players around the world, less than 1% of which are professional. Our belief and aim is therefore, always to push our players towards higher education. We can always dream of being professional but we must also be realistic.”

“It is through our joint efforts and partnership with the Ministry of Sports & Dr. Frank McField that some of these players are able to accept these scholarships and partial scholarships. I wish to congratulate the Minister and thank the Ministry for its continued support.”

Eighteen-year-old Ijon Neil who says that he just loves to play departed for Lindsey Wilson University in Kentucky on a football scholarship in early August.

Ariel Tatum received a full academic scholarship to Wheaton University where he will major in Economics and English while; Trevor Gibbs received an academic scholarship for Hotchkiss School, a prestigious prep school in Connecticut. Nineteen-year-old Tatum says that he is not at all nervous and anxious to get started, “I want to play competitive football and expand my knowledge inside and out of the class room.” He noted that his mother, Avolyn Tatum and Coach Winston Chung of Academy have been a tremendous source of support.

Chung saw Trevor Gibbs off to school, traveling to the United States with him to help him adjust to his new environment. “ I am really proud of these boys, and as I said before, this is not all just about football but also about getting these boys a sound education, so they can make something of themselves and contribute to Cayman on their return.” He took the opportunity to also thank the Ministry of Community Services, Women’s Affairs, Youth and Sports for their contribution to Academy’s after school program.

Andres Webb, who was awarded a two-year football scholarship to Cocker College in South Carolina, will pursue a Bachelor of Science Degree in Computer Science and Engineering. Andres completed his Associates Degree in Physical Science at the Cayman Islands Community College earlier this year.

Ijon Neil	Trevor Gibbs	Ariel Tatum