Grass Root Football Academy founder pleased with progress

Jun 05, 2011 Sports

Some members of the Grass Root football programme take time out for a photo.

Hopes to hold another Pee Wee tourney this year

By Sean Devers
According to President and organiser of the Kingston Grassroots Soccer Academy (KGSA), United States based Guyanese Junior Forrester, the intention of the local ‘Football school’ is to provide the opportunity for talented young Footballers who might otherwise fall through the cracks before they become teenagers.
“This Grass Root Soccer Academy is to help my country’s youths do something meaningful in life other than being on the streets chilling and causing problems in our communities and country,” Forrester told Kaieteur Sport from the USA.
He said he uses his personal finances and also gets the help of strangers from USA to help keep his youth programme running since he feels that Soccer is a powerful vehicle for youth development and social change.
“We also have the presence of my good friends Former National Football player Mortimer Stewart, who is the Banks DIH Events Manager, National Goalkeeper Ronson Williams and my cousins former Youth National captain Nigel Denny and Former National Youth and Alpha Defender Colin Clark,” Forrester disclosed.
He said even when he is abroad he follows the progress of the Grass Root Academy team and uses their positive results in competitions to help acquire sponsors for them.
“At times I need to show these people what they are doing and I save info on these youths so people can see there is progress. I spent one month in Guyana in April and May to help reform and put a little structure to our Academy and it is doing fine,” the former steel pan player who played second division football in the 1990s, informed.
“The Academy finished third in an under-13 tournament I organized last April with nine teams. Santos won and Pele finished second and that made me so proud because they have now started and are improving already,” Forrester added. The Grass Root Academy beat Western Tigers to take the third place in that competition.
In the recent Campton Football Club under-12 Pee Wee competition, the Grass Root Academy placed third, beating teams that are well established in Guyana’s football.
“I am so excited to be able spend time with the youths as they really do not have too many people from abroad who care about them. I really felt their love when I was leaving Guyana. It was a hurting feeling and I believe God have given me this vision to help these kids. I want it to continue and develop this project to hopefully bring out good youth leaders from our programme,” he said
“At this moment I am the sole person providing all the kids’ soccer supplies. At times it is hard but God has been faithful to me as he always provides, so I give him all the honour and glory for what he is doing with the Grass Root Academy and the life of those youths. They are learning to be part of a team and respecting each other. We want to develop them into leaders for tomorrow,” Forrester continued.
Forrester said he hired a Coach and Assistant Coach just to keep the project going, stating that in Guyana few people do much for free.
“People might wonder why I am I doing the Soccer Academy. The answer is due to love. We have 45 youths and there is no better feeling in the world when you really love what you are doing and see that it is making a difference in the lives of young people… not even money can buy that,” Forrester stressed.
“I know God’s purpose for me is to continue to build this project in every phrase and implement educational aspects at a later time. The KGSA is looking to hold another tournament before the year ends and we have faith that the next time around it will be much better.” He concluded.