A Mitcham-based football organisation has launched a series of initiatives which will help young children and families to be scouted and connected with professional scouts from top football teams.
We Make Footballers South London aims to connect young people with London’s top Premier League sides such as Chelsea and help them to navigate the world of football academies.
Following a successful launch event at the Harris Academy Merton in Mitcham during the August Bank Holiday weekend, the organisation will host training camps and offer grassroots football programmes to young children in south west London.
WMF South London Managing Directors, Arnold and Sinitta Sarfo-Kantanka, commented: “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.
“Together with our Member Associations, our partners and all local stakeholders, 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.”
Equipped with a team of talented coaches (who are nationally qualified, via Football Association accreditation and DBS certified) We Make Footballers South London has been encouraging families and parents to sign their children up to their programmes.
The company aims to provide young children with the opportunities to use football to keep healthy, focused and entertained, whilst offering innovative and educational opportunities.
Post pandemic, research highlighted that children’s level of happiness are at their lowest in over a decade and between 2013-2016 and teenage suicides has unfortunately risen by 107%.
As football can support different people irrespective of backgrounds, it is important to use sports as a tool to improve mental and physical health amongst young people.
We Make Footballers South London organises talent identification events to offer talented young children aged between four and 12 the chance to play in front of football scouts from top level clubs, as well as coaches from other local teams.
Their aim is to give players of different ages the chance to find a pathway into club football, whether that be for a professional academy or a grassroots club.
The company wants to invest in south west London’s communities to create opportunities for the next generation by helping them to connect to their hobbies, in this case football.
It also wants to give them purpose and something to do and keep them away from the perils of anti-social behaviours.
We Make Footballers South London aims to provide opportunities to develop sport across Merton, increase participation at all ages, be a community hub for the local area and increase personal wellbeing and mental health through the power of sport.
