KFC Street Soccer

 

KFC Street Soccer sessions are currently running in KFC regime but our aim to do co-work in partnership with local youth initiatives in Kampala, Uganda. A taster session is also about to start and international support/ interests dealing with kids/youth outside mainstream society during 2016, KFC Street Soccer also hopes to add another core part of the service through a “KFC Street Soccer Academy”. This is essentially an employability project which aims to provide a more formal support program over 2 or 3 days per week. Participants will be recruited via the football sessions, and develop basic employability skills as well as gaining an KFC coaching qualification; the hope is that some will move into voluntary positions within KFC Street Soccer or into further training and employment.
Motivation
KFC CEO have worked with a range of socially disadvantaged kids and youth worldwide and this experience qualified for KFC Street Soccer as a community development project on a world scale, youth can use football to move on: to stop crime, prevent crime and drugs, improve their health and give them the opportunity to meet new friends and start joining in society. While thinking about this, KFC Street Soccer hope for unexpected offer and support so KFC can Manage the street soccer team in Kampala, which crystallized what KFC really want to do: “everything is set up, and KFC want a bigger challenge that has to do with something in our own neighborhood”. There is no funding taken place right now, so it’s a huge step with lot of love, care and passion for KFC Street Soccer.

KFC/Karambi Football Club structure
KFC was formed in 2006 and is registered in FUFA, KFC are limited by guarantee, KFC have organization structure like other several football Clubs, KFC is growing as the soccer develops and bring hope for new generations KFC players.

Operation
The KFC operation is quite small, based at its Fort Portal and Kampala HQ to manage what is a complex and far flung operation. KFC Managing Director, is based in Kampala, but he co-manages is living in Fort Portal. The Kampala based KFC staff are responsible for marketing, fundraising, recruiting, coordinating KFC research, health and safety and developing new partnerships.

Business Strategy
For KFC, the key to developing is networking and partnership. “KFC can’t do everything through KFC project but can tie in with other organizations to help youth”.
For example:
• KFC is already working through organizations with similar objectives to recruit participants.
• KFC also plans to support partners to deliver their own sessions, with staff trained and supported by KFC Street Soccer.
Marketing
KFC manager and CEO is doing a lot of the initial work through face to face meetings, including online lobbying to organizations supporting the soccer, kids and youth, to generate interest. KFC use of media is a key player in helping the new KFC Street Soccer gain a profile. This goes further than simply providing advertising space, and includes supporting vendors to participate in KFC Street Soccer either as players or volunteers. KFC new website is in preparation and should be live by the end of 2016.
International Links

KFC need links to worldwide “Street Soccer” and official development agency, which can give KFC Street Soccer access to other countries doing the same thing. KFC Street Soccer need fundraisers for upcoming tournaments that will take place in Kampala, Fort Portal and east Africa. KFC Street Soccer have access to five-a-side pitches free during off-peak hours throughout Kampala. KFC Street Soccer also have access to DVD’s and other material from street soccer teams throughout the world, for staff training purposes and to inspire our kids/youth.
Vision for the Future
KFC Street Soccer is very much in a start-up phase, building partnerships and seeing what works. The longer-term goal is to deliver KFC Street Soccer on small scale services throughout Kampala, and to have a separate program for girls. In the next year though, the focus will be on getting established in Fort Portal and Kampala. Once it has been going on for some months during 2016, an evaluation will be carried out by KFC to identify what works and to supply evidence that can then be taken to funders. “KFC mission is to use football as a trigger to energize kids and youth who are socially excluded, combined with sport related personal development and training, to empower them to change their own lives for the better”
Challenges and Lessons
• The main thing KFC have learned is the importance of networking. KFC need to have two or three face to face, or online, meetings a day with other agencies to see how KFC can fit in with one another. The way forward for any business is partnership and networking.
• Being able to access help and support from local partners and global foundation is very important; not just the space and their contacts, but also advice on where to apply for funding etc.
• KFC webpage also need support, incl. signposting to funding e.g.
• The main challenge is just trying to get the time and the funding, particularly when public sector funding is tightening.
• KFC manager and CEO has an enormous amount of personally invest in the success of KFC. They have seen how positive role models can make a real impact on the lives of kids and youth in particular. But they also have a fear of failure. KFC are kind of proud of what KFC have achieved so far, but there is always that fear of failure; we want to make it work.

KFC Football Academy – CONTRACT

The aim of the KFC Football Academy & Street Soccer is to give those youths who may have “fallen through the net” the opportunity to go on trial at a professional Football Club.

Head of the KFC Football Academy has been working in partnership with several football clubs since 2006. Since then he has referred many high quality players to KFC Football Academy for trials. Many youngsters are spotted early playing for their teams, but a lot more are simply overlooked or develop at a later stage. KFC Football Academy exists to discover these players, to nurture and mentor them, and to help deliver them to appropriate clubs. Where a player is old enough, and considered to be talented enough to make the highest grade as a professional footballer, KFC Football Academy may also offer representation via KFC Football Agency services.
KFC Football Academy hosts Street Soccer, currently held in Kampala. Kids and youths identified as above average are invited to attend KFC Football Academy on a more regular basis, and those who excel and show exceptional ability and talent are offered trials at KFC/ Karambi football club.

KFC Football Academy offers the same professionalism and coaching/training methods which will be expected of players joining a any professional football club.

The objectives of KFC Football Academy are to:
• Identify kids and youths who KFC believe have the raw ability and potential to play at Academy level and above for professional level.
• Offer those kids and youths that may have “fallen through the net” or who are struggling the opportunity to go on trial at a professional level.
• Develop these identified kids and youths whilst giving them a better understanding of football, and what is required of them as a player to progress to KFC Football Academy.
• Forge links with other professional football clubs to filter KFC players through for trials.
• To nurture relationships with professional football clubs so that KFC players gain valuable experience; and
• In those exceptional cases, for KFC Football Academy players above the age of 16, to offer KFC professional agency representation.
Throughout the year KFC organize friendly games for our teams against local and regional football teams. This means that KFC players are seen by the people who make decisions at many football clubs, rather than by just one man at one football club. As a result, it gives KFC players greater opportunities to progress and a choice of football clubs to sign for if they are talented enough.

KFC Football Academy and Street Soccer offer no promises and make it very clear that it remains exceptionally difficult to succeed as a professional KFC footballer; almost all will fail. But if one is talented enough, KFC will strive to ensure that kids and youth are given their opportunity.
KFC Football Academy Development process:
Step 1 – Open Trials – KFC open trials take place during school holidays and are run by our FUFA qualified coaches, and are open to boys and girls aged 6 – 16yrs. Players are selected into relevant age groups and will work on various skills as well as play small sided games.
Selections – Those KFC players we identify as being at the required level will then be invited either by written letter, SMS, face to face, or email to attend KFC Football Academy. This is the first development process for kids and youth footballers to aim for.
Step 2 – KFC Football Academy: Successful footballers will become part of KFC weekly training program (which currently takes place in Fort Portal and Kampala area, although KFC Football Academy intends to open further excellences football centers and attend sessions for a 6 week period held for 90 minutes per session – 1 session per week.
Selections – If a footballer shows the right ability they will then be selected to feature for KFC Football Academy.
Step 3 – Trial Games: Once selected, successful KFC footballers will be asked to represent the KFC Football Academy and play in regular KFC games as well as being offered the opportunity to play in a number of friendly matches against local and regional soccer clubs.

KFC Football Academy Contract
• A player can only sign a professional contract when he is 15 years old or older; it has to be co-signed by his parents or custodians;
• A player who is 18 years old or younger can only sign a contract for a maximum of 3 years;
• All other contracts are limited to 5 years;
• The minimum length of a contract is from its effective date until the end of the season;
• A contract between a professional and a club may only be terminated upon expiry of the term of the contract or by mutual agreement;

• A contract may be terminated by either party without consequences of any kind (either payment of compensation or imposition of sporting sanctions) where there is just cause;
• The validity of a contract may not be made subject to a successful medical examination and/or the grant of a work permit.
There’s more detailed information in the FIFA “Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players” http://www.fifa.com/mm/document/affederation/administration/01/27/64/30/ regulationsstatusandtransfer2010_e.pdf. These regulations also explain what, and how/, player or a club can do if the other party is violating the contract.
Key contacts
KFC should always be able to contact the right person quickly. Use our induction to get to know key members of staff, and to get answers to your questions. Make a note of people’s contact details so you can get in touch easily when you need to.

 

References/Link

Academies Uganda https://sites.google.com/site/ugandayouthfootballassociation/team-roster-and-stats

Edgars Youth Program http://edgarsyouthprog.org/

FUFA http://www.fufa.co.ug/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/FUFA-REGULATIONS-ON-THE-STATUS-AND-TRANSTFER-OF-PLAYERS-2013_2014.pdf

FIFA http://www.fifa.com/mm/document/affederation/administration/01/27/64/30/ regulationsstatusandtransfer2010_e.pdf.

UYSA https://www.linkedin.com/company/uganda-youth-soccer-academy,

UYAS http://uysocceracademy.com/

UYFA – Uganda YOUTH FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION is an umbrella for youth football groups/academies in Uganda. UYFA was formen on 31st May.2008 for guiding and regulate youth football after the following http://orgs.tigweb.org/uganda-youth-football-association-uyfa

 

Karambi Football Academy

Football Academy FAQ’s

What is a Football Academy?
A football academy is part of the football club set up to develop footballing talent. Its most easily thought of as a training school. A place where kids and youth learn their craft, in this case football. Every football club in the premier league and Championship has a football academy, and many more lower league clubs also have them, but not all. KFC/Karambi Football Club have academy registered in FUFA / UYFA(Uganda Youth Football Association) and for those how have knowledge about football clubs in Uganda have already discovered that most football clubs are unlikely to have a football academy, but will find development schemes or community run projects, that kids and young footballers can enroll onto. They schemes are great first stops in the footballing ladder and can be easily be booked onto before joining a bigger academy. Likely for KFC that also run academy can use one of two different names, but still a football club. KFC can either be called a Football Academy, or a Football Centre of Excellence, but essentially they are the same thing. A place where the club can develop young talent.

What age do you have to be to attend an Academy?
The minimum age for any child to join a football academy is 6 years old. To get around this KFC have already create KFC Street Soccer and set of development programs which cater for younger kids and youth. These are less pressured and more focused on fun learning and play, but of course are full of the right skills that a kid needs to develop in order to play for KFC/Karambi Football Academy when they are good and old enough.

What happens once a kid is signed to KFC/Karambi Football academy?

KFC/ Karambi football club ask players between the ages of 6 and 16 to sign KFC forms, which are renewed every 1-2 years, depending on the player’s progress and abilities. At 16, the football will make a final decision on whether to offer the player a place on KFC youth training scheme. This is an exciting beginning for a potential KFC professional footballer. The youth training scheme is much harder to get onto than Karambi Football Academy as it involves a lot of investment, and places are limited. Each KFC youth training scheme lasts between 1-3 years with the aim of developing the player from KFC Academy youth team to becoming a reserve player for KFC. In between the stage of being good enough to play for KFCs reserve team and playing for KFC first team, a bridging squad called the under 21’s is run. This gives players a chance to still play competitive football against other clubs before they are ready for KFCs first team.
It helps them to gain more professional experience before becoming a professional. However, the norm is for players to wait until they are 19 years old until the football will choose to offer them a professional KFC/Karambi footballers contract.

How much training do Karambi Football Academy endure?
Karambi football academy will vary in the training, and commitment that the player is required to put in, but in general, Karambi Football academy will run the following activity:
• Karambi Football Academy players are given all-round assistance from the KFC/Karambi Football Clubs staff
• Players are given practical homework.
• Players are trained specifically on agility
• KFC communicate directly with the kids and youth with request that they also participate in other sports to work other muscles
How Karambi Football Academy develop players
KFC/Karambi Football Club develop their players by entering them into youth tournaments and playing in leagues against others their own age, committed to each individuals development, team play, coaching and training.

They will be working on:
• Development of individual technique
• Football skills based on good system
• Strategies tactics and technique
• Specialist training methods for outfield players
• Specialist training for goalkeepers

What happens if a young player is released from Karambi Football Academy?
A majority of football young players do not make the move from academy to professional KFC team as competition is so tough. When a young player is released from Karambi Football Academy contract, they are added into a list which other football clubs can all access. Players on this list can be approached by any club and asked to join them.

KFC Street Soccer, Kampala

KFC Street Soccer a social enterprise that delivers a range of football related services to socially disadvantaged youth in Kampala, and western Uganda. KFC/ Karambi Football Club was established in 2006, inspired by personal experience of the power of sport and football to create real change and a desire to provide a unique response to the youth in our society. In April 2015 KFC began providing weekly drop in street soccer sessions in Kampala and from there KFC have grown to providing a range of programs and activities to youth from Kampala. KFC Street Soccer (Uganda) was set up by KFC manager and KFC CEO in April 2015. At the time of writing it has only been operating for 10 months, so this case study concentrates on how it got started and how KFC Street Soccer sees it developing. The objectives of KFC Street Soccer are: “to use sports to tackle social exclusion and improve the lives of a range of socially disadvantaged groups” (including the homeless, street kids, long term unemployed, people with drug and alcohol problems etc.). It does this through: Football sessions targeted at youth who suffer from a range of problems. Led by a coach at five-a-side venues, these sessions aim not just to improve health and offer friendship, but also provide practical advice and support in a non-threatening way to help youth move on with their lives. Sessions last around 2 hours and at the moment there should be 2 per week, or more, at venues in Kampala, next to Rest corner.

KFC Street Soccer sessions targeted at kids/youths who may already have had brushes with the law, or who are at risk of getting into trouble, with the aim of diverting their energies into more positive activity.

KFC Street Soccer sessions are currently running in KFC regime but our aim to do co-work in partnership with local youth initiatives in Kampala, Uganda. A taster session is also about to start and international support/ interests dealing with kids/youth outside mainstream society during 2016, KFC Street Soccer also hopes to add another core part of the service through a “KFC Street Soccer Academy”. This is essentially an employability project which aims to provide a more formal support program over 2 or 3 days per week. Participants will be recruited via the football sessions, and develop basic employability skills as well as gaining an KFC coaching qualification; the hope is that some will move into voluntary positions within KFC Street Soccer or into further training and employment.

Motivation
KFC CEO have worked with a range of socially disadvantaged kids and youth worldwide and this experience qualified for KFC Street Soccer as a community development project on a world scale, youth can use football to move on: to stop crime, prevent crime and drugs, improve their health and give them the opportunity to meet new friends and start joining in society. While thinking about this, KFC Street Soccer hope for unexpected offer and support so KFC can Manage the street soccer team in Kampala, which crystallized what KFC really want to do: “everything is set up, and KFC want a bigger challenge that has to do with something in our own neighborhood”. There is no funding taken place right now, so it’s a huge step with lot of love, care and passion for KFC Street Soccer.

KFC/Karambi Football Club structure
KFC was formed in 2006 and is registered in FUFA, KFC are limited by guarantee, KFC have organization structure like other several football Clubs, KFC is growing as the soccer develops and bring hope for new generations KFC players.

Operation
The KFC operation is quite small, based at its Fort Portal and Kampala HQ to manage what is a complex and far flung operation. KFC Managing Director, is based in Kampala, but he co-manages is living in Fort Portal. The Kampala based KFC staff are responsible for marketing, fundraising, recruiting, coordinating KFC research, health and safety and developing new partnerships.

Business Strategy
For KFC, the key to developing is networking and partnership. “KFC can’t do everything through KFC project but can tie in with other organizations to help youth”.

For example:
• KFC is already working through organizations with similar objectives to recruit participants.
• KFC also plans to support partners to deliver their own sessions, with staff trained and supported by KFC Street Soccer.

Marketing
KFC manager and CEO is doing a lot of the initial work through face to face meetings, including online lobbying to organizations supporting the soccer, kids and youth, to generate interest. KFC use of media is a key player in helping the new KFC Street Soccer gain a profile. This goes further than simply providing advertising space, and includes supporting vendors to participate in KFC Street Soccer either as players or volunteers. KFC new website is in preparation and should be live by the end of 2016.

International Links
KFC need links to worldwide “Street Soccer” and official development agency, which can give KFC Street Soccer access to other countries doing the same thing. KFC Street Soccer need fundraisers for upcoming tournaments that will take place in Kampala, Fort Portal and east Africa. KFC Street Soccer have access to five-a-side pitches free during off-peak hours  throughout Kampala. KFC Street Soccer also have access to DVD’s and other material from street soccer teams throughout the world, for staff training purposes and to inspire our kids/youth.

Vision for the Future
KFC Street Soccer is very much in a start-up phase, building partnerships and seeing what works. The longer-term goal is to deliver KFC Street Soccer on small scale services throughout Kampala, and to have a separate program for girls. In the next year though, the focus will be on getting established in Fort Portal and Kampala. Once it has been going on for some months during 2016, an evaluation will be carried out by KFC to identify what works and to supply evidence that can then be taken to funders. “KFC mission is to use football as a trigger to energize kids and youth who are socially excluded, combined with sport related personal development and training, to empower them to change their own lives for the better”

Challenges and Lessons
• The main thing KFC have learned is the importance of networking. KFC need to have two or three face to face, or online, meetings a day with other agencies to see how KFC can fit in with one another. The way forward for any business is partnership and networking.
• Being able to access help and support from local partners and global foundation is very important; not just the space and their contacts, but also advice on where to apply for funding etc.
• KFC webpage also need support, incl. signposting to funding e.g.
• The main challenge is just trying to get the time and the funding, particularly when public sector funding is tightening.
• KFC manager and CEO has an enormous amount of personally invest in the success of KFC. They have seen how positive role models can make a real impact on the lives of kids and youth in particular. But they also have a fear of failure. KFC are kind of proud of what KFC have achieved so far, but there is always that fear of failure; we want to make it work.

Rebuilding KFC/Karambi Football Club

If we all work together for the benefit of KFC then there is nothing that will stop us reaching the very pinnacle of African Football. The Pars fans have shown what they are capable of and to ensure that the KFC survived was great. Now let us show what we can do to make KFC even greater. More shareholders will be welcomed with the minimum purchase reduced to xxx US dollar and fans will be asked to bring more family and friends along to KFC home ground. KFC cannot rely any more on donations. They will be part of it but KFC must have regular income. KFC will introduce the KFC lifeline 2016, an affordable subscription scheme with prizes before going on to invite people to address the audience. KFC has been a tower of strength throughout all of this and in 2016 our club will probably be expecting to have to deal with all the problems KFC had to put up with; KFC earnestly believe that this is a way forward that will lead KFC on the park to achieve the great things that we think is possible to achieve. Let KFC speak on behalf of everyone, the players and the staff, KFC appreciate all the hard work. KFC don’t want to be negative about it but it is very difficult to save a football club, so KFC need the supporters and our KFC followers and everyone should be very proud of it. KFC are on the recovery and KFC will make sure that KFC will go about it in the right way, playing the right way and if KFC get back to the line KFC will be staying there.

KFC promise that KFC did not advocate making mistakes trying to chase the dream and players paying over the odds – and try and capitalize on our youth program that KFC have started. KFC need to decide to change the structure with young boys training together with the first team and giving them a pathway for KFC. A big plus for KFC is the supporters going to develop the team, KFC will all enjoy it, and the feedback is great and KFC will be in the line for what these young boys have to go through, for some reason this is the best club ever. KFC really enjoy the job, you supporters are good people to work with, and give KFC a fantastic reception and to see these kids who want to learn, take KFC forward and KFC will repay you for being given the opportunity.

The first question asked for policy on selling players that are currently being developed at KFC, then KFC need to makes its books balance. KFC have to have money in the bank at the end of 2016. KFC need to keep everybody at KFC and the work behind the scenes is to have somebody to step in. What steps will be taken to restore the reputation of KFC in the local community have to be in co-work with some local businesses; community involvement will be increased and as an example a schools penalty kick competition involving KFC will take place at the next four home matches for 2016.

 

Feedback is welcome. KFC need to make the match day experience far better than it is so that KFC can attract a lot more; KFC need effective management and KFC have a great group of people who are doing their best. KFC need more people to step up to the plate. What KFC have done to get to this stage is absolutely fantastic; to go to the next stage KFC need to re-double our efforts KFC need more people who want to be part of something really special. So if you know people out there tell them how wonderful it is. The feel good factor is coming back to KFC. Let’s go on from here, KFC cannot stop now. There is no doubt in our mind KFC can do it. KFC will be back at the top of the football line within 2016.

 

Thank you for all your efforts but go out there and work harder for our KFC/ Karambi football club.