
The Nairobi Jaffery Academy on March 21, unveiled a three-year partnership with Southampton, famously known as the Saints, to set up an elite academy.
Through this partnership, the Saints will conduct football clinics as well as provide opportunities for boys and girls to excel both on and off the pitch.
According to one of the Saints representatives, the partnership will help many of the players get opportunities to travel abroad.
Also Read: From a Church Drummist to Playing for Crystal Palace: The Story of Marc Guehi
“It is a chance for the players to travel to the UK. There will be a lot of learning not what just happens on the pitch but also learning in the classroom as well.
“We are taking the holistic approach where we can support players and turn their potential into excellence.
It's expected that the coaches and staff will help in session planning and the matchday behaviours: how to bring these individual development plans from the players into the sessions but then into the game day as well.
According to the Academy’s representative, it’s important to develop a student both intellectually and physically.
“Intellectual development as well as physical development goes hand in hand and has done so for as long as we have heard of civilization.
“What is important to us here are the values that Southampton represents, through the Southampton way this turning potential to excellence but also their focus on unity and respect, aspiration and accountability that resonates very well with the values in our school.
“We want to instil these values to our students with the Southampton way throughout the school from early years all the way after A level,” the representative noted.
Also Read: Football Academies That Shaped Top Kenyan Footballers