The University of the West Indies, Mona Campus has signed a cooperation agreement with the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) to establish the National Football Academy at the Mona Bowl on the University Campus.

The agreement was signed on Thursday, June 26, 2008 at a press conference held at the Mona Visitors’ Lodge and Conference Centre. Principal of the UWI, Mona Campus, Professor Gordon Shirley, signed on behalf of the University and JFF President, Captain Horace Burrell, signed for the Federation.

Professor Shirley explained that the collaboration between the UWI, Mona and the JFF was part of an ambitious sports development programme being undertaken by the Mona Campus to institutionalize a comprehensive, multi-disciplinary, international-level sporting facility at the Mona Bowl. He said that the UWI was committed to developing the athletic talent replete in Jamaica in order to promote the nation’s international competitiveness and the sports development programme was in keeping with Mona’s vision for its own development over the period of the University’s Strategic Plan 2007-2012.

The first phase of the project will see the development of the Football academy which is intended to provide an excellent training facility to support both the human and physical resources to sustain and develop the JFF’s strategy towards the growth of football at the player, coach and officials levels in Jamaica. The Football Academy will consist of two football fields, an Academy Centre building including dormitories, a park, and car parking areas.

Phase 2 will involve the construction of a Mondo Track with 8 lanes and a multi-weather surface as well as a standard football field and 8000 spectators seating stands.

The final phase of the development project will see the establishment of a Caribbean Institute of Sports Medicine to include a School of Physical Therapy as well as academic programmes such as sports and events management, sports medicine, sports psychology and sports rehabilitation.

Existing facilities at the Mona Bowl will also be upgraded. Currently, a beach volleyball/football court is being constructed and the gym is being expanded under a sports enhancement initiative underway since 2006. Over the 2008-2009 academic year, a second indoor facility for basketball/volleyball and netball will be constructed and lighting is to be provided for the beach volleyball/football facility.

Effective 2008-2009 academic year, The UWI, Mona will also be offering a number of scholarships to selected athletes initially in the track & field and football.