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Antiguan Duo Heading To South Bend In 2022

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South Bend, IN – Defender Amali Colbourne and striker Troy Jules — who has represented Antigua and Barbuda at junior level — will join South Bend Lions for the 2022 USL League Two season, subject to League and Federation approval.

The Antiguans are the first recruits identified for the new season after impressing during an extended trial in England.

The opportunity for the youngsters initially arose after standout performances in front of coaching staff from the Future Lions Academy at the CAF University Identification Combine in 2019. The event was held in connection with Generation Next Football Club in Antigua — a partner club of Future Lions, which is owned by South Bend Lions’ principal investor Ritchie Jeune.

Having initially planned to attend trials during 2021 until COVID-19 prevented them from being able to travel to Indiana, the duo has spent time being assessed by coaches at Kettering Town during August.

Ritchie Jeune, South Bend Lions owner, said: “Our coaching staff at Future Lions have only spoken positively about the time they’ve spent working with coaches and players in the Caribbean.

“We are pleased the relationships we have worked hard on building are proving beneficial in identifying talented players that we can continue to help develop and provide opportunities to.

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“Troy and Amali integrated themselves quickly and successfully with the group at Kettering, and I’m sure they will do well over an extended period of time in South Bend.”

Ambassador Ricky Santos, President of Generation Next Football Club, said: “We aim to provide the young footballers of Antigua and Barbuda with the opportunity to excel and achieve excellence through football. We are pleased that both Amali and Troy have demonstrated their ability and dedication to succeed in taking the next steps in their pathway.

“They have again impressed in assessments with the coaches at Future Lions and we are very proud of them. We look forward to seeing them progress in the USA next season and inspiring more players from the Caribbean to follow in their footsteps.”

South Bend Lions Football Club is a new United Soccer League franchise, based in Indiana.

The team will compete in USL League Two in 2020, the country’s top pre-professional men’s soccer league. Thanks to the collaboration of the leading local youth programs at Jr Irish Soccer, Indiana Invaders, Elkhart County United and Michiana Echo, the Lions have already kicked off preparations for their inaugural season by holding tryouts for a new U-18 program which will provide a pathway for local youth players.

South Bend Lions will become the second USL club in the state of Indiana — after Indy Eleven joined the USL Championship in 2018 — and the new franchise will play in the Great Lakes Division of USL League Two.

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2 responses to “Antiguan Duo Heading To South Bend In 2022”

REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST

(CONSULTING SERVICES – INDIVIDUAL SELECTION)

 

OECS MSME Guarantee Facility Project

Loan No.: IDA-62670, IDA-62660, IDA-62640, IBRD-88830, IDA-62650

Assignment Title: Senior Operating Officer (SOO)

Reference No. KN-ECPCGC-207852-CS-INDV

 

The Governments of Antigua and Barbuda, Commonwealth of Dominica, Grenada, St. Lucia and St. Vincent and the Grenadines have received financing in the amount of US$10 million equivalent from the World Bank towards the cost of establishing a partial credit guarantee scheme, and they intend to apply part of the proceeds to payments for goods, and consulting services to be procured under this project. 

The consultant will serve as the “Senior Operating Officer (SOO)” for the ECPCGC and should possess extensive knowledge of MSME lending with some direct experience lending to Micro, small and medium-sized businesses, knowledge of the internal control processes necessary for a lending operation and the ability to design and implement risk mitigation procedures. The ideal candidate should possess an Undergraduate Degree from a reputable college or university, preferably in Business, Accounting, Banking or related field, with a minimum of 5 years’ experience in lending, inclusive of MSME lending. The initial employment period will be for two years on a contractual basis. Renewal of the contract will be subject to a performance evaluation at the end of the contractual period. The assignment is expected to begin on September 30th, 2021.  The consultant will report directly to the Chief Executive Officer of the ECPCGC.

The detailed Terms of Reference (TOR) for the assignment can be viewed by following the attached link below. 

 

https://bit.ly/3iVannm

 

The Eastern Caribbean Partial Credit Guarantee Corporation (ECPCGC) now invites eligible “Consultants” to indicate their interest in providing the Services. Interested Consultants should provide information demonstrating that they have:

  • An Undergraduate Degree from a reputable college or university, preferably in Business, Finance, Banking or related field; and
  • Minimum of 5 years’ experience in MSME lending. Applicants should also have:
  • The ability to design and implement risk management procedures 
  • Extensive knowledge of MSME lending with some direct experience lending to small and medium-sized businesses
  • Extensive knowledge of MSME banking operations
  • Knowledge of the internal controls necessary for a lending operation and the ability to design and implement risk management procedures
  • Experience developing and presenting information in public, including responding to questions in real-time
  • Experience lending to MSMEs located in the ECCU
  • Knowledge of marketing and communicating with the MSME sector
  • Ability to draft procedures to be used in a lending operation
  • Familiarity with the mechanics of a loan guarantee program
  • Exceptional written, oral, interpersonal, and presentation skills, and
  • Proficiency in the use of Microsoft Office suite.

The attention of interested Individual Consultants is drawn to Section III, Paragraphs 3.14, 3.16, and 3.17 of the World Bank’s Procurement Regulations for IPF Borrowers July 2016, [revised November 2017] (“Procurement Regulations”), setting forth the World Bank’s policy on conflict of interest. A Consultant will be selected in accordance with the Approved Selection Method for Individual Consultants set out in the clause 7.34 of the World Bank Procurement Regulations for IPF Borrowers. 

 

Further information can be obtained at the address below during office hours 0800 to 1700 hours:

Eastern Caribbean Partial Credit Guarantee Corporation

Brid Rock, Basseterre,

St. Kitts.

Expressions of interest must be delivered in a written form by e-mail by August 11th, 2021, to [email protected]

 

For further information, please contact:

Carmen Gomez-Trigg                                                            Bernard Thomas

Chief Executive Officer                                                          Chief Financial Officer

Tel: 868-620-8144                                                                  Tel: 869-765-2385

Email: [email protected]                                          [email protected]