In an effort to make positive changes in the lives of the young people in his hometown of Linden, former national footballer Kayode Mc Kinnon recently opened a football academy to not only teach the art of the sport but to create a sense of identity for those who attend.
Kayo’s Academy, which was officially opened at the Linden Technical Institute (LTI) ground on March 8, targets boys and girls from ages six to 16 years old. Sessions are held every Saturday for about two hours.
So far the response has been great and the initiative has been highly praised by Lindeners who believe that it comes at a time when there is some amount of depression in the town leading to negative practices among the youth. They hope that with this academy the minds of the young people can be moulded thus decreasing the number of street limers.
Kayode, who has been playing the sport since the age of six, is currently playing professional football in neighbouring Trinidad with the Tobago United Football Club.
Speaking to The Scene via telephone, he says the opening the academy was a childhood dream. He says its whole aim is to build a sense of identity and purpose among those who attend as well as to develop good social skills among the youths of Linden.
Kayode, excitement evident in his voice, says that in Guyana sport is like a distraction as many especially the older adults believe that academics and sport cannot go together.
He notes that there are many student athletes all over the world and this proves that belief false. He says many people who are involved in sport get scholarships to study.
Plans are in the making, to incorporate academics into the programme so that the students will learn how to focus on the two together.
Kayode says the academy started out with 30 students and he particularly chose the six-16 age group because he believes that this is the time in children’s lives that they are being influenced.
He explains that the things that the children will learn at the academy can help to mould them thus leading them along the right path.
Explaining just how he was able to get his dream off of the ground, he says he outlined his vision to a friend, Garth Nelson, who made contact with two persons at a non-profit sport development organisation in the USA. From there, things just fell into place.
He says Colin Barker and John La Rose, two Guyanese attached to A Star Production in Miami were instrumental in providing him with starting equipment such as balls, bibs, socks and shirts as well as a medical kit.
While stressing that it is a sizeable investment, he adds that the Linden Economic Advancement Programme (LEAP) was instrumental in helping him to purchase some jerseys for his young footballers.
Pointing out that these donations might not be for the long term, Kayode says he and his family intend to work together to ensure that the academy gets all the resources it needs.
“I want to keep this fresh and running,” he says adding that in Guyana it is customary that when a project starts out it does well for a while before dying down.
Kayode says he plans to place a television advertisement so that Lindeners and the rest of the country can see the successes that those attending the academy have made as well as to draw more youths into the programme.
He says he wants people to understand that it would not only be about football but life as well.
Asked who is looking after the club in his absence, Kayode says that responsibility lies with his uncle Michael Mc Kinnon, who is a past national football captain and who is the coach, as well as other family members.
He says a nurse has volunteered to be present at every session to handle any injuries and two teachers will be there to motivate the children.
Kayode, who has made himself into a role model for many young Lindeners, is now 28 years old. The former Bakewell Top XX player says that for the past six years he has been residing in Trinidad and Tobago where he played for Joe Public, North East Starts, Caledonia AIA and Tobago United. He is currently playing for the Tobago United.
Kayode adds that he also went to Spain in 2000 and Jamaica in 1999 where he played for short stints.
He says it is a challenge for him to play for his present club because it has never been in the top part of the Football League and does not win many games.
Asked if he thinks he can make a difference he said with a laugh “we will see”.
Kayode thanks all those including NCN which showed ads for a month prior to the academy’s opening and media houses and the whole of Linden for their support in his quest adding that he is confident that it will develop the mining town as well as get some of the negatives out of the minds of the youth.
