City Mission Educational Services (CMES) Football Academy in Bridgetown stands as a shining light for many young aspiring footballers.
CMES was founded in 2004 as a combined school, and has now seen the need to tackle the potential of its students beyond the classroom.
In 2023, the CMES football academy was born, merging the worlds of academics and football to shape the future of promising talents.
The academy is the brainchild of Yorick Meyer and Nathan Ramedies.
CMES Academy embodies the belief that sports and education are not mutually exclusive but rather complementary forces.
With a mission to provide an environment for young ballers to thrive, the academy aims to instil values of discipline, teamwork, and resilience alongside academic excellence.
For Meyer and Ramedies, the academy is more than just a football training ground, it’s a a space for social change and personal development.
“We aspire to create opportunities, both locally and internationally, that will empower our students and lead to self-sustainability,” said Ramedies.
However, the journey of running a football academy is never without its challenges.
Ramedies says financial constraints, transportation issues, and the need for dietary support pose significant hurdles, yet the team remains steadfast in its commitment to overcome these obstacles.
Among the sea of football academies around, CMES wants to distinguish itself by becoming a community and championing family involvement.
Parents are not encouraged to just be mere spectators but be active in their children’s journey towards success.
CMES also believes in the philosophy that every child deserves a fair chance to pursue their dreams regardless of their background or circumstances and that they may have a future Bennie McCarthy among their ranks.
The men at the helm of the academy are seasoned mentors with years of experience working with young athletes and bring a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the table. They have been within the junior set-ups in professional clubs with Ramedies also having stints in UK academies including Wimbledon FC.
