Sports Briefs
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NO fewer than 400 kids from all over the world are expected to be trained in Canada by the Kanu Soccer Academy. Through the academy, Nwankwo Kanu, former captain of Super Eagles, said he had devised another means of helping young ones to fulfil their ambitions in football.
Hence, from August 1, this year, kids from all over the world, between 11 and 18 years old, will converge in Alliston ON, Toronto, Canada, for the first Residential Soccer camp being put together by the Kanu Soccer Academy.
The camp which has been divided into two phases will see kids from Africa, Asia, Europe and the Americas go through intensive soccer training, moral and educational lessons.
The children will also be exposed to modern training methods, come in contact with their counterparts from other cultures and interact with soccer greats, particularly Nwankwo’s contemporaries during the active years of his illustrious career.
Players like Thierry Henry, Denis Bergkamp, Didier Drogba, Patrick Viera, and Ronaldo de Lima, are some of the former stars to take on the kids. Each child is to pay $6,000.
Yusuf Chidama, a director of the Kanu Academy, said: “The programme will provide a platform for the kids to exhibit their skills and, perhaps, further their careers in football. It is an opportunity for them to be noticed on an international platform.”
According to Onyebuchi Abia, chief executive of the Kanu Heart Foundation, who is also involved in the programme, said honing skills in children was not new to the Kanu Soccer Academy.
“Four years ago, the Kanu Heart Foundation started a programme with Greensprings Schools and it was a huge success as most of the kids travelled abroad and played against children from other similar academies.
“We are not new to handling kids. The likes of Kelechi Nwakali, who just signed for Arsenal passed through the Kanu Soccer Academy. So far, the responses we have been getting are encouraging,” Abia said.
— Mar 21, 2016 @ 01:00 GMT
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