KG Sports Academy Agbor is set to kick start a football School for kids interested in developing their football Skills at early age. Managing Director of the Academy, Dr. Ken Gadaffi revealed this in an exclusive interview with Sports247.ng from his base in Cambodia.
According to the amiable Sports Administrator who returned to Cambodia after two years in Nigeria building and developing the Academy and involved in Grassroots Sports Development, The Football School will be open to kids aged 3-15 years and there will be different categories for all levels.
“One thing I discovered following my stay in Nigeria this past 2 year is that there are lots of academies but not many are actually teaching the basics and so many of our young players lack the foundation to excel in the game” Dr Ken Gadaffi Stated.
“With this in mind, I am now setting up the football school to actually cater for the young who desire to become professional so as to learn the basics early in their Development” he added.
The School will run programs for kids aged 3-5 called *FUNdamentals*, this Program will basically be for fun and uses engaging drills to teach age-appropriate passing, catching, and running skills in a non-contact setting for the kids.
The *First Kick* Program will be for kids aged 6-10 and introduces them to the game in a fun freeway. Kids will begin to learn how to kick the ball and play together.
“These programs are very essential for beginners and we want to correct the way many parents Understand football, While we are blessed with Natural Talents in Nigeria, the techniques and technicalities are lacking and the only way to get it right is to start early” Dr Ken Gadaffi explained.
The Football For all Program is for Kids aged 10-15 years old and at this stage, they will be introduced to team games starting from 1v1, 2v2, 3v3 and progress until 9v9. this program according to Dr. Ken Gadaffi “is to introduce the players to Team Football and develop their tactical knowledge of the game”
The KG Sports Academy Football School will also be available for the Lower School Program and Upper School Program, this basically is for the U16s and U19s. “At this level, the players are already getting to the stage where they turn professional and so they would be introduced to club football and engaged in lots of 11 v 11 games” Gadaffi Stated.
Meanwhile, the Academy has also launched a mobile app that will enable Students and Parents to engage effectively with the Club programs as well as the general public. According to Dr. Ken Gadaff, in this modern age, Students and Players must be exposed to Technology early in life. Moreover, the Club Scouts, Club Agents of professional Teams will be able to follow and monitor the progress of the Players from the Football School level through to Academy Level.
As this is a huge project that may well help to turn around the way football is being developed at the grassroots level, Dr Ken Gadaffi is open to partnership with corporate organizations or Individuals with similar visions.
“We are open to partnership, already we have agreement to develop and provide Young Players for Clubs in Europe and Asia so there is a huge potential for these programs to grow if we get the right funding and support” he opined.
