Former NFL player partners with DIBIA with scholarships
Famed former NFL player Desmond Howard partnered with the Miami based company, Dibia Athletic Development to provide scholarshipsfor 30 local youth to participate in a football skills clinic hosted at Ransom Everglades earlier in July.
“I had an interest in doing a clinic so we decided to give it a shot,” Howard said. “I enjoy seeing kids competing and getting the most out of their abilities. There was a lot of hard work that goes into putting on a clinic [but] you have to keep in mind that you’re doing it for the kids.”
The one-day clinic, hosted by Dibia Athletic Development, gave players ages six to 14 an opportunity to be trained by some of South Florida’s esteemed high school coaches, well-recognized local NFL trainer, Idi “Bo the Trainer” Smith, and Howard for three-hours of intense skill drilling ending with a coach-player interactive game.
“Our coaches really took their time with the young men and gave them as much individual attention as they wanted,” Howard said. “Communication is paramount in running a successful clinic.”
It was the first football related clinic that the international company hosted as part of its multisport expansion.
“Expanding into other sports has been our plan since day one,” said Dibia Athletic Development CEO, Brandon Okpalobi. “Calculated and strategic expansion is key to being successful globally.”
Okpalobi, a University of Miami alumnus (Class of 2005) and former basketball player, began Dibia Athletic Development in 2011; since beginning, the company has offered basketball camps and clinics worldwide.
Okpalobi, said after personally training with Smith and sharing the company vision with Howard, he knew they were key in the expansion process.
Smith’s name, whose clientele includes Santana Moss (Washington Redskins), Donte Whitner, Chad Johnson, and more, has become synonymous with elite development. Smith, who typically is focused on professional athletes, said that it was a positive change of pace to work with kids. Players and parents alike are already looking ahead to the next clinic. “I can’t wait for the next camp,” said Eric Sutton, 14, a sophomore at American High School. “Since camp I have become faster in all the drills we learned.”
Howard and Okpalobi said that with the success of the clinic, that costs $50.00, they will look to expand for the next, including adding more days, NFL player participation and focusing on holistic development. “We look to have film sessions, a life skills portion, and clinic manual so the kids can continue to learn the fundamentals of the game,” said Okpalobi.
By Akilah Laster
akilahlaster@gmail.com
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