One-Two Magazine January 2014 | Page 42

Formed in 2009 , an affiliate of then White Fingers Peace Initiative, now Peace For Africa and Economic Development (PAD); the academy has in its line of priorities the promotion of football as a means of promoting peace in the community. The academy also purposes to inculcate talent as an economically viable income generating activity. The academy seeks to establish football in Kenya as a meaningful, peaceful and profitable community enterprise.

The academy is currently composed of 120 players, out of which; 40 players form the under 12 squad, 25 form the under 17 team and 25 form the under 19 squad. The senior team is composed of 30 players. The academy has 1 girl for every 4 boys, hence a 25% composition of the female gender; this is in itself a break with conventional view of football academies which often only work at promoting the male gender.

The time spent at the academy is tailored to develop in the youth not only the knowledge of good football talent, but also to promote in them an entrepreneurial mindset, leadership skills and more importantly, to make them champions of global peace.

The Migori Youth Talent Academy (MYTA) is a center of excellence in the development of football talent in Kenya. The first of its kind in its entrepreneurial approach to football, MYTA seeks to develop to meaningful and financially viable, sustainable levels the soccer talent in youth aged 9-25 years from all over Kenya.

ACTIVITIES

Organizing competitive tournaments in cluster teams in counties to award talent as a way of inspiring better achievement in football.

Organize social and civic awareness programs in various centers to create awareness to youth and the society in general on issues of social, economic and environmental importance to the community as a way of training the youth on social responsibility.

Initiate development of other talent-promotion initiatives in Kenya to ensure complete and national promotion of football as a talent and an entrepreneurial activity.

Expose the young players to various football institutions and teams as a means of promoting their talents globally. The success of players in mainstream football will encourage other players to perform better in their own game and training.

Develop resource centers for sports and educational material for the complete development of Kenyan sport and facilities for training and community mobilization.

Organize training workshops and conferences for players, referees, and coaches. Facilitate license and certificate acquisition for trained members.

Sport; my peace, my future