A new youth soccer academy, named ‘Kigali Elite Soccer Academy’ (KESA), is now open for kids under age categories of 6 - 8 yrs, 9 - 10yrs, 11 - 12 yrs, and 13 - 14 yrs. The academy opened up its activities at the end of December 2012 with boys aged 15 - 17 yrs training regularly at Kigali Parent’s School football ground. This initiative is aimed at development and promotion of young soccer players through good social values and sports integrity.KPS is the official training base for KESA and plans are underway for its future expansion to standard norms.All teams under age categories of 6 - 8, 9 - 10, and 11 - 12 teams will train on weekends at Kigali Parents School football pitch on week days from 8am to 10am where as the 13 - 14 and 15 - 17 age categories will be training every day from 5pm to 6h30pm in the evenings.According to the academy assistant director, Johnson Mugabo, the initiative to open up a soccer academy right from a very young age is in an effort to promote sports culture in Rwanda.“We have a keen interest to develop and shape talented younger footballers but shall also give great focus to other aspects of life like discipline, health and valuable education to the children,” he said in an interview with Times Sport last Friday.He added, “Sport has many social values that range from health to other aspects of life. It is a good foundation to a healthy society with productive citizens. Sport provides good mental and physical development for everyone.”The official date to start training session is on the 16th and 17 February 2013. Registration is on-going with a fee of Rwf15, 000 per player that is also to be paid at the end of subsequent months.
