Improving Young Lives in Africa On and Off the Field
They say that football is a metaphor for life and nowhere is that more true than in Africa. Africa is a wonderful and beautiful continent – one with so much untapped potential. Nowhere is that more evident than amongst the millions of young boys and girls who love the most popular game on our planet that is 'Football'. We're all familiar with the globally supported multi-billion dollar teams and millionaire superstars, but less so with the love and despair, joy and tragedy, and hopes and dreams that the young boys and girls in Africa experience often in humbling and despairing poverty where football is their shining light in what can often be a dark and depressing existence.
The aim of this book is to share some of those hopes and dreams and the love and joy that football encapsulates in so many and how Jersey 2 Africa 4 Football (J2A), since its inception has sought to inspire, to create joy, share love, give hope and help dreams to come true. We use The Beautiful Game and the Power of Football to engage African youth, not only in how to improve their football skills to become better footballers, but also to improve their life skills to become better young men and women as they mature to adulthood.
We sincerely hope that you enjoy this insight into our story so far, and reading about the activities, events and some of our modest successes in our quest to 'Improve Young Lives in Africa on and off the field'.
Ricky Weir Founder & ChairmanHow it all began...
NOVEMBER 2012
Where it all began: with these four suitcases full of football kit and a trip to Nairobi with Paul Bell, who had built and run a school in the Nairobi slums for 15 years with his wife, Gill, children and other family and friends.
First day in Nairobi experiencing first hand the conditions in the slums. Within an hour of arriving I was asked "Please would you coach us sir?" and so it began.
Twice daily coaching sessions were then organised, with 250 young boys and girls taking part in the sessions, many of them barefoot as shown.
Images like these were the ultimate inspiration to continue to help these young players, by providing better footwear and kit in which to play, learn and enjoy their football.
Boys and girls of the Red Roof Academy proudly sport their new kits, courtesy of Grouville F.C. and St Peters F.C.
Mukuru Combine FA were delighted to receive Jersey FA home and away kits, in which the Jersey senior men won the Island Games gold medal in 2009.
18 January 2013
Jersey 2 Africa 4 Football Foundation Limited, a Jersey based charitable organisation, is officially formed.
SEPTEMBER 2013
Opening of the J2A football store thanks to premises kindly offered by the States of Jersey in conjunction with the E Bailhache Trust.
The store, based in central St Helier, was a new concept and the first of its kind in Jersey, accepting only football donations.
The store received donations of second hand balls, boots, kits and equipment, which were either resold locally to raise funds or shipped out to Nairobi.
With a wide array of team and individuals kits, tracksuits, training tops, shorts, socks and footballs, boxes were packed for shipment to Nairobi.
SEPTEMBER 2014
Thanks to support from shop staff and volunteers, two boxes weighing almost 1,000 kilos, were ready to begin their 7,000 mile journey from Jersey to Nairobi via Southampton and Mombasa.
We were warmly greeted on our first day by the Chief of the Mukuru slum district, who was presented with a canvas print of Jersey's own Chief, HE Lieutenant Governor.
NOVEMBER 2014
Gatwick Airport en route to Nairobi with Gill Bell and her daughter Bethany, accompanied by 14 suitcases and 10 holdalls, which had to be safely navigated through 4 airports and the final hurdle of customs at Nairobi Airport.
Above, Patrick Otieno leads the way to the Embakasi School field, where we were warmly greeted by head mistress Nancy Mutai, who had kindly offered the use of the school playing field and classrooms for the duration of our visit.
Another week of coaching got underway, two years after our first visit. Boys age groups from U8s to U17s, plus U15 girls, all received coaching and we also completed our first coaching clinic for local coaches.
Despite the odd distraction, all the sessions were successful, with much improved organisation and planning by the local coaches. All of the players were enthusiastic, attentive and keen to learn and improve.
Youth players from U8 to U14 each received new shirts for match day, kindly courtesy of our Jersey sponsor Mike Jouanny through his company TDS.
Mukuru coaches received new kit kindly courtesy of Sir Bob Murray and Graham Robinson of Sunderland F.C.
It was a landmark day for Mukuru Combine FA and its association with J2A, as we were able to transform these boys from footwear like this...
...to this!
The first time that most of these boys got to play in proper football boots.
A memorable day was enjoyed watching these young boys play, which highlighted some undoubtedly talented young players.
The following pages tell their own story of what daily life looks and feels like for these slum kids, yet we are never far away from a beautiful smile...
NOVEMBER 2015
We arrived in Mukuru to be greeted by players, then visited the devastation of Embakasi Girls School, which had been 50% destroyed by fire the previous evening.
One of our players, Christine, lost most of her personal belongings in the fire. J2A was able to send her on a shopping trip to replace most of the items she lost.
Nevertheless, coaching got underway with an improvised outdoor classrooom (left).
Pictured left, bottom right, Pearson and Victor, two fantastic young lads who look after all of the kit and equipment. Pictured right, some of the players and coaches who have benefitted from J2A support, both individually and collectively.
Above, a visit to players' homes was a very humbling experience, witnessing first hand how several million people live day to day in such impoverished conditions.
Here, a return to Red Roof Academy and a fantastic welcome, including meeting this young lad again, who featured in our earlier book. Now a few years older, he was somewhat bedazzled by his new found celebrity status.
Richard Gituro, Operations Manager for Alive & Kicking, took us on a tour of the Nairobi factory where leather footballs, specifically made to endure African terrain, are handmade and hand stitched, using labour from the local slum community.
J2A subsequently formed a partnership with A&K, which now supplies us with J2A branded footballs
(above) that people can also purchase to donate.
A meeting with officials at the Nairobi City Stadium allowed us, much sooner than expected, to fulfil our dream of enabling our players to both play and be coached on a decent playing surface, such as the one shown, a 3G facility, which most players had never experienced in their young lives. Here they are pictured in action and also sporting their brand new playing kits for the first time ever.
J2A now delivers coaching clinics to local coaches and also donates kit and footballs in return for the free use of the stadium facilitiy.
Pictured (top left) with stadium community head coach Alex Mwangi and Patrick Otieno. Bottom left: assistant stadium coach. Right: Sabit our young player of the day.
Picture highlights of Aiden Weir (age 5), who visited Nairobi in April 2016. His unbridled passion and engagement with the boys and girls he met, demonstrated beautifully how children can engage with each other, irrespective of social, racial or cultural background.
Simon Okelo (25), founder of the Wire Soccer Academy in Oyugis, Western Kenya, travelled 8 hours through the night to meet us. His efforts were rewarded with kits and footballs and, together with one of his young players, he attended their first ever Kenya premier league match as guests of J2A.
APRIL 2016
Another successful coaching clinic for local coaches took place at the Nairobi City Stadium, with attendee coaches each receiving a J2A football.
Libby Barnett joined J2A in March 2016 and then ran the London Marathon in April. Funds raised went to the Maendeleo Learning Centre for more new beds, the laying of new dormitory floors and replacing the girls' dormitory roof.
In partnership with Alive & Kicking, 100 Limited Edition footballs were made in Nairobi in April 2016, generously sponsored by Standard Bank, to commemorate the historic 100th Muratti football match held in Jersey in May 2016.
NOVEMBER 2016
Above: Arrival at Nairobi Airport with Jersey women footballers Libby Barnett and Eve Watson, who were making their first trip. We received a warm welcome from Patrick and his players, together with our driver Benson.
The girls quickly embraced the warmth of the children they meet and had the unexpected surprise of meeting the Kenya national team head coach Stanley Okumbi.
Here, another great moment as Libby conducts her first coaching session for women players, whilst Eve takes part in a women's match sporting their newly donated kit from her Jersey club, St Paul's F.C.
That afternoon we had over 20 coaches attending a coaching workshop (above). Pictured left are all of the coaches who participated in making the day a great success.
JUNE 2017
The Nairobi Football Festival for Peace was devised in concept to bring together 'football for good' organisations in partnership with football industry investors to showcase how football can and is used for good, with the central idea of the festival being to promote unity, inclusion and gender equality, within the broader framework of peace promotion in the build up to the Kenyan national elections in August 2017.
16 teams of mixed gender took part at under 10 and under 14 age groups, seen here receiving their festival t-shirts kindly sponsored by Standard Bank (Stanbic).
Apart from co-host organiser MYSA other partner organisations supporting the festival included Alive & Kicking, Just4Keepers and Vijani Amani Pamoja.
In between games players attended workshop and coaching sessions conducted by the various partner organisations.
Founder and Chairman of MYSA, Bob Munro pictured bottom right, receiving a special edition festival polo shirt from J2A director Sailesh Navsaria.
Highlight of the day was undoubtedly the arrival of premier league footballer and Kenyan team captain Victor Wanyama, who met with organisers and partners and graciously signed over 200 autographs for all players, coaches and organising staff.
Trophies and awards for the winning teams and runners-up were generously sponsored by Standard Bank (Stanbic), with all teams also receiving a J2A participation award.
Each team was presented with specially designed festival footballs, handmade by Alive & Kicking, new GK gloves courtesy of Just4Keepers and inspirational photocards signed personally for every player and coach by guest of honour, Victor Wanyama.
Henry Majale CEO of Mathare Youth Sports Association MYSA (left) receives a special partnership award from Victor Wanyama in recognition of the 30th anniversary of MYSA and as a thank you for co-hosting with J2A in organising the festival.
The winning team captain of the Acakoro Football Academy under 10s (right) receives the winners trophy from Victor, his football hero and icon for millions of young boys and girls throughout Kenya.
Just about to leave and encouraged by the watching players and coaches, Victor Wanyama takes the microphone and addresses everyone with words of love, peace, inspiration and encouragement. A truly fitting end to a wonderful day for all concerned where the joy of football shone through and these young boys and girls got to meet their footballing hero.
JIBS 4 Africa Challenge Trophy
A successful fundraising tournament sponsored by Jersey International Business School was held in December 2017 at Jersey's Springfield Stadium.
DECEMBER 2017
8 teams participated in a '6a-side' competition with all teams having to field at least one female player with the emphasis being to encourage an environment of fair play, inclusion and gender equality, rather than going out to win at all costs.
The winners of the main competition were the JFA Community Team, with Stonehage Fleming winning the plate competition. The event raised over £3,000 which will support future projects and initiatives undertaken by J2A.
JUNE 2018
The opening of the Russia World Cup 2018 and 4 young players from Oyugis State, Western Kenya, as guests of J2A, enjoy watching Spain v Portugal in their apartment, organised by J2A ahead of their participation in the 2019 Football Festival of Friendship. This was the first time all of these boys had left their home village.
The Stanbic Football Festival of Friendship June 2018
16 teams, 64 players, 32 coaches, all brought together by J2A in collaboration with co-host MYSA, to produce a day of fun, football and friendship.
The Festival incorporated other elements such as a penalty shoot out competition, and handmade footballs by A&K. Water was supplied by JIBU and every player & coach received a signed inspirational autograph card from Victor Wanyama.
There was tremendous action throughout the day and some fantastic skills on display by both boys and girls alike.
64 handmade leather footballs specially produced by Alive & Kicking for the tournament and kindly sponsored by Stanbic, with each club receiving an equal share at the end of the tournament.
Additionally, courtesy of Praxis IFM, 128 mini footballs exclusively signed by Victor Wanyama were presented individually to all players taking part.
Julia Shisia, Head of Insurance at Stanbic Bank, presented trophies to the Winners and Runners-up for both age groups (U10 & U14) in both 'A' and 'B' competitions. Participation medals were also presented to each player, coach and volunteer who either took part or played a role in making the day such a success.
Each participating club also received two full football kits courtesy of the Jersey FA Capita Centre of Excellence, who donated and contributed to the shipment of 16 sets of full kit, plus coaches training kit and over 200 training bibs.
All teams celebrate at the end of a fantastic festival of football, fun and enjoyment, with each player receiving a mini football signed by Victor Wanyama, a participation medal and signed autograph card.
JULY 2018
JIBS
4 Africa World Cup Challenge Trophy 2018, Springfield Stadium
The second JIBS 4 Africa tournament saw the number of corporate participants increase from eight to twelve teams. They participated in 3 round robin group matches followed by 2 knock-out and/or play off matches.
All 12 teams received a special edition Jersey 2 Africa 4 Football Participation plaque, with Winners & Runner-Up trophies being awarded in both Main & Plate competitions.
Link Asset Services scooped the main trophy award, the JIBS 4 Africa World Cup Trophy 2018, whilst State Street won the Plate final. All teams received a participation J2A plaque award and a copy of the J2A book 2012-2017, demonstrating some of the work, events and activities undertaken in the preceding 6 years and providing illustrative examples of how funds raised by J2A are spent.
NOVEMBER 2018
An 8 hour 400km drive to Oyugis State Western Kenya, the first time J2A had ventured outside of Nairobi since its inception six years previously. The catalyst for this trip was Simon Okelo and the Wire Soccer Academy, who had shown tremendous desire and passion in visiting Nairobi by bus in the three years hence, to attend coaching clinics, J2A football festivals in 2017 & 2018 and, on Simon's first trip in March 2016, simply for the chance to meet Ricky Weir and say "Hello".
Simon organised over 45 local coaches to attend a J2A coaches' clinic. The coaches travelled from far and wide, with one coach journeying over 80km. Also, mind-boggingly and inspirationally, Jean-Paul Byiringiru at the behest of Simon travelled from Rwanda over 36 hours by bus through Uganda to attend. This certainly put our 8 hour drive from Nairobi in an air conditioned vehicle into a different light.
An early afternoon practical session for senior players.
This was followed by an instructive session for junior boys and girls later in the day.
Presentation to Simon Okelo (right) of a specially commissioned J2A plaque recognising the tremendous work Simon and his coaches undertake in this remote part of Kenya to improve young lives on and off the field through football.
Closing pic with many of the coaches (left) who attended the clinic where once again football is the common language bringing everyone together irrespective of race, gender or ethnicity.
JULY/AUGUST 2019
17th Homeless World Cup, Cardiff
Team South Africa, accompanied by Ricky Weir, as official Team Guide and liason.
Courtesy of J2A and sponsors Standard Bank, the players each received new astro shoes for the tournament, as well as J2A hoodies and polo shirts, GK gloves and balls.
The HWC tournament was the brainchild of a Scotsman, Mel Young (pictured bottom left) in 2003 and provides a fantastic week of football, fun and friendship for these players, who would never have imagined the opportunity to 'represent their Country'. The pride you could see in all the players at the playing of their national anthems was quite often overwhelming.
South Africa's youngest ever professional referee Madala 'Fezile'
Mhlophe (right) attended the event to promote the new Amazon Prime six part documentary entitled 'This is Football'. In this he plays a featuring role as a young boy too weak to continue playing the game he loves at 14 years old, so sets out to become a professional referee. This he accomplished before he was 18 and for which he has deservedly received worldwide acclaim.
The South African HWC team provided a heart-warming and joyful mix of some brilliant play on the field and colourful singing and dancing off it, which they incorporated into their pre-match warm up and which brought fans, media and other teams to a standstill with its vibrancy and colour.
A truly memorable week as team guide comes to an end at Cardiff Airport seeing off the South African HWC group as they set off on their long haul trip back to Cape Town.
AUGUST 2019
Junior kits from Jersey Scottish and Rozel Rovers find a new home in Jerusalem, Kenya (above), whilst local coaches are thrilled by their new training tops, courtesy of PwC and the Jersey Primary Schools Festival.
Trophies and footballs are presented at the finale of an U14 tournament held at the City Stadium, Nairobi, which J2A stepped into sponsor at the last minute, upon receiving a request from the tournament's lead organiser, who had struggled to raise sufficient funds to support the purchase of enough trophies.
AUGUST 2019
Greeted by Wycliffe Ogalo, the CommissionerGeneral, of the Kenya Prisons service, who sanctioned a coaching visit by J2A to the King'ong'o Maximum Security Prison, Nyeri, Kenya, which was the first of its kind in the history of the prison.
The visit was arranged by Irene Mbori, a female coach, who had previously attended a coaching workshop held by J2A and, who had made it her life's work visiting prisons throughout Kenya to help in rehabiitating prisoners through football, after her own father was murdered in front of her in a gun attack some years previously.
Arrival at the prison gates (top left) and issue of a visitors pass and discussion of the plan for the morning (bottom left), for both a classroom and a practical session with both inmates and staff.
Approx 50 inmates and staff attended a coaching seminar entitled "How Can Football Help You in Life?" and virtually the whole prison turned out for a practical coaching and games session afterwards in the prison courtyard (right).
A presentation is made to Mr Eustace Wairagu, Superintendent of the King'ong'o Maximum Security Prison, in recognition of the visit by J2A and in the hope that the session will prove to be both a stimulus to adopting football skill practices, exercise routines and games as part of a sustained legacy, to enhance their existing rehabilitation programmes for inmates.
Our largest and most comprehensive coaching clinic to date at the City Stadium, attended by almost 90 grass roots coaches, which was themed "What is a Coaches Responsibility?" covering the 4 core principles of grass roots coaching.
The clinic was aimed at coaching 5-12 year olds and included a GK session conducted by George Opiyo, founder of Just 4 Keepers (J4K) Kenya, followed by an outfield session on passing, movement and possession play, suitable for the target age group.
Specially commissioned J2A pin badges were then presented to key members of the 'J2A team in Kenya' including our loyal driver and logistics co-ordinator Steve who has been serving J2A for almost 3 years (pictured right).
Pin badges and special recognition went to each of these coaches for displaying exceptional and consistent committment to J2A for a number of years; Simon Okelo and Nancy Odhiambo, Wire Academy; George Opiyo, J4K; Alex Mwangi, Nairobi County and Paul Byiringiro, who in 2018 travelled 36 hours by bus from Rwanda just to attend a J2A coaches clinic in Western Kenya.
Anne Wairimu has attended every single J2A coaches clinic or event since we were first introduced in Nov 2015 and always has a gleaming smile on her face. She is a humble and beautiful lady, who works selflessly to improve the lives of young boys and girls in her community through football, and is a worthy recipient of the 2019 J2A award 'Coach of the Year', the first award of its kind to date in J2A's short history.
A fantastic and enjoyable day comes to its conclusion, with a record number of coaches coming together with the common desire of wishing to learn and gain new knowledge in helping to improve the lives of the boys and girls in their communities through football.
Meanwhile this J2A junior representative (right) had befriended these two young boys during the day and considered them worthy recipients of these Man Utd kits and new A&K footballs, kindly donated by a BBC Jersey listener.
SEPTEMBER 2019
Nairobi Soccer Academy ‘Kick Off to Hope’ run by newly appointed J2A ambassador, Musa Otieno, celebrate a donation of shinpads and boot bags generously donated by Le Masurier Jersey, and Alive & Kicking footballs kindly sponsored by BBC Radio Jersey.
Musa Otieno is one of Kenya's most successful and decorated footballers, having made his national team debut for Kenya against Zaire in 1993 at the age of 19. He subsequently went on to gain more than 100 caps for Kenya and captained the team on a record number of occasions before his retirment. Musa (pictured above) has accepted an ambassadorial role with J2A activities in Kenya.
Patrick Matasi is presented (left) with some J4K junior gloves in support of his goalkeeper academy, which he still finds time to actively support in his local village. And (above) the two current best goalkeepers in Kenya, Patrick Matasi (No.1) and Jeff Oyemba (No.2), give thumbs up to an aspiring young goalkeeper, Aiden Weir.
SEPTEMBER 2019
Ole Sereni Hotel, Nairobi
The J2A Nairobi based team, who have been a fundamental part and contributors to numerous successful, enjoyable and rewarding trips over the past 4 years.
Steve, Alex and George are fantastic advocates of J2A in Kenya and we are extremely proud to have each of you as part of our Kenya team!
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2019 (Rwanda)
Visit to the Bumboga district of Rwanda to meet Jean-Paul Byiringiro and his fellow coaches and players at the L'Etoile academy.
This visit culminated from the efforts of Jean-Paul Byringu, who one year previously had travelled 36 hours by bus to Western Kenya, by his own means just for the opportunity to meet J2A founder Ricky Weir for the first time.
DECEMBER 2019 (KENYA)
Martin Kibera who does fantastic work in his local community working with youths and coaching and developing Football Freestyle skills, as one one of Kenya's top stars of the sport, is thrilled to receive some new kits for some of his young players from the City Estate, Nairobi, kindly donated courtesy of Laura and staff at Carey Olsen, Jersey.
OLE SERENI HOTEL, Nairobi
An excellent meeting with Stephen Otieno, Sports Advisor for Kisumu County Governor facilitated by Bob Oyugi, director of coaching and player development at the Edu Coaching academy, where we constructively discussed and explored potential opportunities to collaborate on joint coaching initiatives between J2A and their respective organisations in 2020.
J2A team up with former Harambee Stars legend Musa Otieno and his Kick Off to Hope academy hosting their annual Community Cup for Under 14s. 16 teams took part and J2A sponsored the 'B' trophy.
Despite incredibly challenging conditions, after heavy rains, it didn't dampen the enthusiasm, enjoyment and commitment of all the players who took part.
After a great day of competitive football J2A were delighted to play a part in the presentation ceremonies as a co sponsor of the tournament. We were also thrilled to be joined by members of Jersey Finance, Faizal Bhana director for Africa and Anna Siodak, Kenya Country co-ordinator.
