Soccer club for disadvantaged boys needs donations
The club offers training for boys who live in Kempton, street kids as well as boys from a few shelters in Kempton, including All Star Boys' Shelter
LION Stars Football Academy trains talented boys and young men to hopefully one day achieve their dreams of becoming soccer stars.
Every week on Mondays and Fridays the athletes work hard on the open field on Maxwell Street, running laps, practising their soccer drills, perfecting their striking skills and learning to defend like pros.
But only one thing stands in their way of becoming the next Doctor Khumalo, Lucas Radebe or even David Beckham: the lack of funding.
Not having much sponsorship or money going into the club, the team struggles with having a decent kit, equipment and even having the funds to send players to tournaments and trials that could really benefit the kids.
The academy was started in 2014 by Hounkpatin Agbeko (coach), Princeworld Agbanzo (technical director) and Tumelo Zandile, who is the team’s manager.
The club offers soccer training for boys who live in Kempton, street kids as well as boys from a few shelters in Kempton, including All Star Boys’ Shelter.
“The reason we started the academy was to find a way for children to keep themselves busy, for example when they come from school and their parents are not home yet,” Agbeko explained.
“The sport also helps keep their bodies fit and healthy, which is important for their performance at school.”
Last year the club joined the Tembisa United Football Association and has been competing since then, including the Ellis Park Challenge Cup, where its U/17 team participated until the finals level.
The club currently caters for an U/21, U/19 and U/17 team, and has another group of younger boys being groomed.
Not all the boys come from disadvantaged backgrounds and some of them live in Kempton with their parents. Only these boys are then able to pay a joining fee of R50. The others are allowed to play for free.
That is why the team needs help from the community, so it can at least send the boys to trials when they are invited.
Every year the club takes about seven boys from the shelter to trials at big teams such as Ajax Cape Town. This includes travelling and accommodation costs, which they can’t afford.
If anyone in the community would like to help, please contact Agbeko on 074-904-9401.
