Latest update February 10th, 2025 7:48 AM
Overseas-based Guyanese forms Academy in Kingston
Students and coaches at the Kingston Academy display some of the equipment received.
A former member of the now defunct Kingston Football Club, Junior Forrester, now residing in the USA has recently started a process to install an academy in the area and residents of that area are currently benefiting from the initiative. The academy was recently opened and Forester says that he is pleased with the response.
Dubbed the ‘Kingston Grassroot Soccer Academy,’ the institution is geared to curtail deviant behaviour among the youths while keeping them off the streets. Administrators of the Academy also plan to expose its membership to sports and academic vocations.
Yesterday morning, the academy benefitted from a donation of football equipment inclusive of uniforms, footballs, jerseys, trunks and hoses among other items.
Forrester made the presentation and said that he hopes that the youths utilize them fully. He noted the assistance was received from the Guyana Sports Development Association of Miami Florida.
According to Forrester, Squadra Soccer of USA, apart from donating the balls also facilitated a discount on the uniforms, even assisting in the shipment of the equipment.
Forrester intimated that there are 30 children in the Academy. He said that they are currently undergoing training in the intricacies of football. He also said that administrators of the academy will soon commence academic sessions where the members will be introduced to academics. The sports enthusiast is scheduled to leave sometime today for the USA and he plans to purchase several computers to enhance the academic programme.
The academy is currently housed at 35 Fort Street Kingston which has been reconstructed to facilitate academic classes. The members also enjoy club nights where they analyze the football feats of past stars even as they indulge in delicacies. A vital part of the programme is the church services on Wednesdays where the membership receives divine inspired counseling at a church in the area.
So far the 30 children at the Academy are tutored in football skills as well as other vocations. Emlack Gomes and Colin Clarke are the two coaches that have been given the responsibility of honing the youngsters’ skills. Clarke, a former National Youth player is currently a last back in the Uprising Football Club, while former captain of the Alpha Football Club, Leon Grumble, one of Forrester’s brothers, also plays a vibrant role in the developmental activities as he also delivers valuable advice among other support.
The members of the Academy were recently involved in two group activities. The first, a clean up exercise in the Kinston area on Saturday last, while they returned the following day to indulge in recreational activities in the form of a fun day.
At the moment, the club activities are funded by Forrester. However, the last weekend activities received support from several corporate entities. Among them were Just Water, Toucan Industries and Banks DIH Ltd.
Forrester said that the administrators of his entity are hopeful that the youths benefit fully from the services provided by the Academy.
Similar Articles
THE BLUNT OF THE DAY
Sports
Features/Columnists
Forward to the past
Peeping Tom… Kaieteur News-Guyana’s debt profile, both foreign and domestic, has become a focal point of economic... more
OAS Secretary General Election and renewed OAS Consensus
Antiguan Barbudan Ambassador to the United States, Sir Ronald Sanders By Sir Ronald Sanders Kaieteur News- The upcoming election... more
Weekend Cartoon
