Looking at Camara

Speaking during an online interview, Camara admits from a young age he had a passion for sports but it was only in 1998, at the age of eight he realised his love for football. He said, “I still remember the finals of the 1998 World Cup. I was eight years old then and I think that’s when I met my first love, football.” As time progressed, he became involved with many other sports including track and field as well as table tennis, but had to prove to his parents that his grades were better in the school terms where he did engage in sports. Camara said, “It was this drive and passion for sports that actually made me excel in my academic studies.” He obtained an additional scholarship and went on to graduate from the University of the West Indies with Upper Second Class honours, majoring in Economics and Sports Management.

Although this was not the path he intended to follow, Camara, said he trusted God to work it out for him.

Through his degree, knowledge and passion for sports, Camara was able to meet contacts and expand his knowledge of the sports industry locally and internationally.

He was determined to pursue his masters in Sports Management adding, “I knew I wanted to do my Master’s Degree in Sports Management and there was nothing that could have told me otherwise.” However, it was only through research for the top sports Master’s in the world, he came across, FIFA Master and discovered that he could get a scholarship through the programme. He said, “Not a week passed and I didn’t check the FIFA website and the profile of what an ideal candidate should possess.” This was a new dream of his: one that he was going to achieve on or off the field.

The application was straightforward where once a postgraduate degree was obtained, one could have applied and was somewhat guaranteed of a full or partial scholarship.

The FIFA scholarship covered his tuition and he was able secure additional funding from the Government as well as companies.

Through the scholarship he was able to visit England, Italy and Switzerland where he learnt about the history, legal, financial and management aspects of sports.

Camara said, “The things you experience in this programme that is unique is sharing a classroom with 32 like-minded individuals for ten months from over 25 different nationalities.” When asked about the youths of Trinidad and Tobago, Camara stated that as tomorrow’s leaders they should be given opportunities that can help them grow and learn.

He said, “You reap what you sow.” Another one of Camara’s dream is to become successful so that he can, “be the catalyst for change in Trinidad and Tobago’s sports.”