Kay’s Football Academy is giving free training to Linden youths in a favoured athletic sport along with classes in social etiquette in keeping with its objectives to nourish the hearts and minds of youth.
Public Relations Officer Judy Todd told Stabroek News that the Academy is the brainchild of national footballer Kayode McKinnon who wanted to share his skills with the community that nurtured him. It was opened in March. Todd said MacKenzie youths aged six to 16 learn football skills and they are also taught etiquette and other social graces. Enrolment is $3,500 per child which includes uniforms and a snack after every session. The academy is operated by Kayode’s parents Pastor Andy and Gloria Mckinnon.
According to his mother Kayode started playing football at the tender age of three. He soon honed his talent and later became a member of the Junior National Team, then the National team. He has also played for the Trinidad and Tobago Club, Tobago United.
Meanwhile, Todd said “we have on register right now about 70” youths, and about 50 of them attend the football sessions on the weekends. Every Saturday from 9am to around noon, the youths meet for football practice at the Linden Technical Institute (LTI) ground on Washer Pond Road. During the week social skills teachers Trudy Scott and Janette Gibson host classes on public speaking, dining etiquette and other topics at the Youth Centre at Red Wood Crescent. Meetings to discuss the academy’s business are also held at LTI, in the absence of an official office building.
Todd said that the Academy is, “a place for them (youths) to come on weekends.” She said too national footballers in Linden and other professionals who can give of their time, along with corporate entities and businesses that can offer assistance with football gear or other kinds of assistance are welcome. The institution does not accept monetary donations. “Basically we want people with football skills,” says Todd, but other professional help as well, for example, the Academy currently has a volunteer phonics teacher.
