Changing young lives with the beautiful game

PRIDE in Oldham nominees the Kickz project with players, coaches and co-ordinator James Mwale (front)

PRIDE IN OLDHAM:

THE team behind a project to change lives through football has been nominated for a Pride In Oldham award.

The Kickz programme has been run by the Oldham Athletic Community Trust since 2008, and has seen almost 500 teens take advantage of the scheme.

The idea is to hook youngsters aged 12 to 18 into training sessions with the draw of football action, then provide a breadth of personal-development programmes to equip them with life skills.

One of the major successes was a kick-and-cook project, which taught the young football hopefuls how to plan, budget for and cook a meal, with a Latics star taking part in a taste test.

Scheme co-ordinator James Mwale has been there since the beginning, when Oldham Athletic became one of only five clubs outside the Premier League to be awarded the Kickz programme.

He said: “The project really has gone from strength to strength. Working with the young people you realise it’s not about changing them but unlocking that brilliant potential that has always been there.

“You can see people’s attitudes changing along the way and that rubs off on the young ones who are just joining.”

Youths also met officers from the police challenge-and-support team to exchange views on crime issues and anti-social behaviour in the community.

The youngsters have also celebrated success on the pitch as well as off.

The under-16s team made it to the finals of the Kickz tournament held at Chelsea’s Stamford Bridge and picked up the Fair Play award for being good sports on the day.

It is the end of the road for project leader James, who is leaving in September to move to Qatar.

He’ll be starting a two-year contract with a football company focusing on player development.

James said: “It’s been good to see the attitudes of the players, and people always comment on how vibrant and great the young people of Oldham are.

“I am just over the moon the team has been nominated, especially as I am leaving — it’s the perfect end for me. “I’m massively proud of everyone.”

Dale Newton will be taking over from James as the co-ordinator in September.



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