Mitcham hub offers potential pathways to the top for young footballers
A new scheme has been launched to help football-mad kids into training camps aimed at showcasing the best for talent scouts.
We Make Footballers South London, a Mitcham-based enterprise, had a successful launch event at the Harris Academy, Merton, during the Bank Holiday weekend and will host training camps and offer grassroots football programmes in South-west London.
Most Training sessions will take place at the Canons Leisure Centre Mitcham, Madeira Road, with others to be held at various venues around Tooting, Wimbledon and Croydon, and taken by a team of nationally qualified and FA accredited coaches.
They all aim to help youngsters – four to 12-year-olds being the prime target group – and families catch the eyes of professional scouts from London’s professional football teams, and help them to navigate the world of football academies.
The company believes that even without the carrot of a career in football, the camps will promote health and mental well-being and steer many away from anti-social behaviour.
WMF South London managing directors, Arnold and Sinitta Sarfo-Kantanka, issued a mission statement, saying: “Our young children represent our hopes and dreams for a brighter future, and we have an obligation to hand the game to the next generation in a better place and in better health than we inherited it.
“We will continue to plant the seeds of hope for children of all backgrounds and abilities to develop their capabilities, instil lifelong values and enhance character development through football, ensuring that children are offered alternative opportunities and combat a potential negative lifestyle.”
Pictured: The launch of We Make Footballers (Picture: WMF South London)