Pembroke Hamilton Club (PHC) are launching an ambitious fund-raising scheme to help the club?s youth football programme.

And, through a combined effort on the part of players, parents and corporate Bermuda, Zebras youth coach Jack Castle is confident the new five-year initiative will greatly benefit the Warwick club in the long term.

Plans are to have PHC players between the ages of 13 and 18 compete in overseas tournaments for the next five years, beginning with July?s Robbie International Youth Tournament in Toronto and a match against an Ontario Soccer Association Regional Select.

The annual tournament has welcomed teams from many countries in Europe as well as the United States and the Caribbean over the past 30 years.

But first, said Castle, Zebras Under-13 and Under-18 youth players, parents and the Island?s corporate sector each have a major role to play to bring the ambitious scheme to fruition.

He explained: ?The overall cost per player is $1,500 and the boys and their parents will raise two thirds of the money and we are asking corporate Bermuda to sponsor a player for $500.?

Each player, Castle added, would raise $1,000 by means of packing groceries at local shopping stores and involving themselves in organised car washes and trash and walk-a-thons throughout the Island.

?We want the boys to work for themselves and each other while at the same time learning life skills in order to become overall good citizens,? he added. ?And we are looking to provide our youth players with as much exposure as possible for the next five years in overseas tournaments in different countries.?

Zebras plan to compete on both sides of the Atlantic over the next five years.

?The boys will do their part raising funds and we are looking for the corporate sector to assist the boys who are out there helping themselves to achieve something,? said Castle.

?Overall we hope to fund trips overseas while not totally relying on the corporate sector. And we hope to take our Under-15 and Under-13 teams overseas to allow them to play in a different environment other than North America.?

With the support of sponsors, and fund-raising efforts by the players, parents and coaches, PHC?s Under-13 teams participated in the Canadian Summer Under-13 Tournament and Camp last summer.

A total of 23 players and four coaches made the trip to Canada which, according to Castle, ?provided the club?s youngsters with a wholesome off-Island experience?.

Now, in keeping with the club?s commitment to youth development, PHC plan to again attend the Under-13 Canadian Summer Camp and compete in the Robbie International Tournament from June 30 to July 13.

?PHC are devoted to youth development and working together we are committed to a five-year development plan for theses young men,? Castle added. ?Through our football programmes PHC?s youngsters are afforded life-long experiences which will have a positive effect on the community as a whole.

?And we pride ourselves in the area of education where we have an active scholarship programme and a scholastic monitoring programme where our coaches visit schools, including the Bermuda College, to provide assistance for those who endeavour to achieve.?