Ten inmates from Westgate Correctional Facility have cleared the first hurdle of the Matrix Soccer Academy coaching programme.

The inmates successfully completed the introductory phase of the programme and received certificates from Michael Weeks, the Minister of National Security,, during a ceremony on Wednesday, which was also attended by Keeva-mae Joell-Benjamin, the Commissioner of Corrections, and Edward Lamb, permanent secretary at the ministry of National Security.

The course is the brainchild of Dennis Brown, the former Bermuda defender and retired prison warden, who is delighted to see the inmates pass the initial phase.

“I was very pleased with the inmates and overjoyed with the presentation of certificates for the participants in the introduction of the Matrix Soccer Academy coaching programme,” he said.

“This is very dear to me because I worked in the prison for 31 years and to see the inmates totally engaged in the process was very pleasing to see, but this is just the beginning.

“We are at the stage now where we are going to be starting online coaching opportunities for the inmates in the prisons as we’re also going to involve the prison farm as well. Last time it was just Westgate, but next time they will going to Westgate plus the Prison Farm.”

Lamb, the former Commissioner of Corrections, is thrilled to see the inmates involved in the programme.

“The overseas coaches [Matrix Soccer Academy founder Charlie Jackson and USA Matrix president Bryan Watson] were very impressed and enthused with what they saw in terms of the attitudes of the inmates and how well they participated and how much they contributed,” he said.

“All in all it was an extremely successful program and I have to commend Dennis Brown for initiating that programme within the walls of Westgate.

“It’s an excellent programme so these guys can come out and make a contribution to society as coaches and leaders.

“Subsequent to that first phase, these guys are going to be doing some online coaching right at Westgate to develop their skills,” he added.

Brown and his fellow Matrix colleagues are also looking forward to strengthening ties with Whitney Institute Middle School, having also held coaching sessions there this year.

“They enjoyed their time at Whitney with the talent there, so we are going to have a relationship with Whitney Institute Middle School,” Brown said.

“Also the next time they come they want to deal with the children in foster care, which is something that is very dear to Charlie, the Matrix founder, having history with foster children in the United Kingdom.

“So we are looking to do that well as troubled teens. We are looking to expand the experience all over Bermuda.”