Mark Holmes Football Academy

Hi guys! .. For those that have kids attending Mark Holmes Football Academy please could all standing orders be set up going in to January. If your child is keeping a place please could payment be made (no later) than the
(4th of January)thanks or the place may be given away. Training goes back on the 15th January 2024. The two missed weeks will be made up in the longer months over the year and extra sessions will commence in April.
Have a great New Year when it comes and we look forward to getting back to training on the 15th. Best wishes to you all 🎉👍. Highlight

26/12/2023

Organization Name: Mark Holmes Football Academy Zambia
NAME OF PROJECT: OPEN SPACE STREET SOCCER
Theme: “League Yabo”
About the organization
Football, unites fans, athletes, and nations worldwide. Football is a unique and powerful cultural phenomenon. As well as having significant social and economic impacts, sport has many environmental impacts.

Mark Holmes Football Academy uses the power of football to change lives of young people in disadvantaged communities across Zambia.
Mark Holmes Football Academy further aims to make training sessions as enjoyable as possible in an environment where kids can learn new skills, gain confidence, and develop as footballers.

All the kids at Mark Holmes Football Academy are trained by current professionals, ex-professionals and ex-Mark Holmes Football Academy Zambia offers professional football training for boys and girls aged between from 8 to 20 years old in a nice safe environment.

IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGY
The Open Space Street Soccer project will target 1000 boys and girls aged between 7 to 16 years providing them with football and life skills education through a structured community league. This project will involve the establishment of street soccer leagues in the communities. Furthermore Open Space Street Soccer project will train 100 young people who will be involved as peer leaders, coaches and coordinators. The pilot project will be implement in Garden and surrounding communities from February to December 2024.

Playing in open spaces is not illegal. In street soccer, players learn to handle the ball through instinct and ingenuity. Street football holds immense significance for various reasons. Street football brings people from diverse backgrounds together, transcending barriers of gender, nationality, and ethnicity. It fosters a sense of community, connecting individuals who might not otherwise interact. Health and Fitness. Street football encourages physical activity, promoting better health and fitness.

The Open Space Street Soccer project will provide a platform for children to have access to exercise, especially in communities with limited resources for organized sports. Playing in open spaces empowers will empower children especially by giving them ownership of the game. It boosts self-confidence, as players create their rules, adapt to varying conditions, and express themselves freely. By playing side by side, children will learn to appreciate each other’s differences and build lasting relationships.

The project will involve the establishment of structured football leagues for boys and girls who will play during weekends with the main focus of using football to integrate life skills education. Specific thematic focus areas will focus on right to education, financial literacy, skills development, mental health, Community Service and Development through football.

LEAGUE YABO in our Zambian local language means their league as it is being owned by the children in their communities, it gives them a sense of pride and ownership.
This will focus on promoting their right to play as well as keeping them busy through football. Furthermore this project will be aimed at talent identification and development. The target group will be involved playing structured 7 aside and 5 Aside football leagues.

CHALLENGES IN THE TARGET COMMUNITIES
Many of the townships we plan to implement the Open Space Street Soccer project suffer from a lack of basic infra- structures like water, electricity, and sanitation. Water is a natural resource without which all living things cannot exist. Other challenges faced by children in the communities are poor sanitation, lack of recreation, drug and alcohol abuse, poor sports infrastructure as well as HIV/AIDS. Children’s everyday life in these townships children became a struggle for survival.
There is urgent need to create platforms that are focused on promoting to address these social development issues through sports and peer education programs.

Below is some of the kids at the Mark Holmes International Football Academy making the footballs that they are currently playing with.

Mark Holmes International football academy is looking for a ball sponsor for Zambia , Ghana and Kenya if anyone is interested to come on board. Coming on board will give your business exposure each time posts are put out on social media and being able to be part of something so unique and raw as this venture whilst helping others in need. Any interested parties please drop me an email.. thank you 🙏. @followersFootball Association of Zambia (FAZ)GhanaDaily MailDaily Record

24/12/2023

A big thanks to everyone that has supported Mark Holmes Football Academy on and off FaceBook. First and foremost I would like to thank all the coaches who have been a joy to work alongside and have given their all to the kids to make sure they have a great time whilst at training. Without these guys it would not be possible to keep the academy moving forward.. I would like to thank their families too as I’m sure it’s a juggle at times to be there so thanks for being patient and understanding. It’s been a very busy year with lots of kids throughout the highlands attending and also kids from many other countries who have been to inverness on holiday. All the kids have worked so hard and we have seen big improvement in their game due to the hard work they have been putting in. This year we have put many kids into professional and semi professional clubs which has also been very encouraging to see. I’ve opened up new football academies in Zambia, Kenya and Canada which although is at very early stages it appears to have taken off. Zambia looks like a real find with coach Salatiele running it. Sal is very pro active and has great vision for where we can take the academy over there. We saw the Mark Holmes International football Academy book being published now selling in big stores such as Waterstones and selling worldwide which is great exposure to the academy.
At Mark Holmes International Football academy in Ghana the players are working immensely hard under the watchful eye of Jay who is running it out there and doing a great job whilst Solomon owusu is out in Canada . Solomon has done an amazing job out there and continues to keep driving the academy forward. We were also donated a mini bus for the kids in Ghana by Murray Middleton who resides in inverness which was an amazing gesture and has made a big difference. A big thanks to everyone that donated football boots and strips it was very much appreciated and to the Scottish Ghana Society who also helped us get more football boots..

The coaches , parents/grandparents and guardians are the heartbeat of Mark Holmes Football Academy juggling a busy work life and family life but always making sure that their child gets to training on time. I would like to wish you and your families a very Merry Christmas and a happy New year from mine to yours and look forward to seeing you all back in January.

Training will start back on Monday 15th January at all your usual times 👍. Enjoy the festive everyone 🥳

Photos from Mark Holmes Football Academy's post

12/12/2023

Spot your son or daughter if you screen shot and zoom in and if they have attended Mark Holmes International Football Academy.. your child might have made the inside of the book.. Mark Holmes International Football Academy book is sold in Waterstones Book shop in Inverness, Elgin, Edinburgh princess street, Glasgow sauchiehall street , Aberdeen. The book is also Available on Amazon, WH Smith’s , Simpsons Garden centre, Dalmore Farm and in the Victorian market and up the Market Brae steps. Could be a nice stocking filler for your child’s Xmas to see themselves in a book which is now selling worldwide.

08/12/2023

Hi guys, for Saturday (small group sessions ) for age 3-4 will be held outside over at Fraser park tomorrow (sat) at 10.45-11.45.

Could all 9-12 years old boys and girls come at 12-1pm tomorrow instead of 1-2pm thanks👍. If anyone wants a training session for their child tomorrow age 3-4 or 9-12 drop me a pm 👍 feel free to share thanks 🙏

07/12/2023

Hi guys for all the kids in Alness who
Attend Mark Holmes Football Academy training will be indoor every sunday at your usual times .. please could you make sure your payment has been made before turning up thanks and a big thank you to those that have paid .. much appreciated 👍

02/12/2023

Hi guys for those training in Alness tomorrow please take boots and trainers for the kids just
incase we manage to get indoors if the pitch is not playable thank you 👍

28/11/2023

Incredible collection of football boots for the young Kids in Africa. All boxed up and ready to go at the end of the week.. thanks to everyone that donated ❤️👍. The kids in Ghana are buzzing and can’t wait to receive them. There must be around 80 pairs. I will hold some back though and send some to my football academies in Zambia and Kenya.

23/11/2023

This is so lit 🔥 ✨⚽️✅ official pictures coming soon ⚽️✨✅

10/11/2023

Mark Holmes Football Academy
NEW SATURDAY small group sessions start tomorrow OUTSIDE for boys and girls age 3-10. I look forward to coaching all your kids and can guarantee they will leave the session buzzing. See you all then 👍

10.45-11.45 age 3-4
12-1pm age 5/6 7/8
1-2pm age 9 /10/.

Bookings only.
For more info drop me a pm 👍

05/11/2023

PAY AS YOU GO Saturday sessions for boys and girls are starting next week. These are small group sessions with 10-12 kids in each session trained by ex professionals.
TO BOOK..WhatsApp me on 07719381585 or pm.
SPACES are starting to fill up.

Mark Holmes International football Academy
Saturday timetable .
Ages 5-6 training 9.30-10.30am
Ages 3-4 training 10.45-11.45am
Ages 7-8 training 12-1pm
Ages 9-10 training 1.15-2.15pm.

When you get in touch I will tell you the venue 👍.. safety of the children come first hence I never put it out on fb. 👍

04/11/2023

Mark Holmes International football academy is now running New sessions every SATURDAY in INVERNESS .. if you have a boy or girl age 3-10 that would like to be coached by ex professional players.
Below is the outdoor sessions timetable.
I can be contacted on fb Mark Holmes football academy page or WhatsApp 07719381585. A proven academy across the highlands and international with many successful opportunities for young players going on to pro clubs and semi professional clubs.

These sessions are for everyone across the highlands and beyond. Anyone in my academy already are also welcome for additional sessions .. drop a pm for prices

Ages 5-6 training 9.30-10.30am
Ages 3-4 training 10.45-11.45am
Ages 7-8 training 12-1pm
Ages 9-10 training 1.15-2.15pm.

When you get in touch I will tell you venue 👍.. safety of the children come first hence I never put it out on fb. 👍

03/11/2023

Hi guys Mark Holmes Football Academy will be starting (NEW! SATURDAY INVERNESS! SESSIONS for age 3-4, ages 5-6 , 7-8 and 9-10 for 1 hour sessions starting next Saturday by myself. Contact me by pm for more info or WhatsApp . This is for boys and girls . Much appreciated if you could share so it reaches out to parents .. thanks guys 👍

29/10/2023

New classes for Mark Holmes Football Academy will start soon in Invergordon every sunday 2pm for kids age 5-8. Drop me a pm for more details or WhatsApp me on 07719381585.
Feel free to share thanks 👍
The Alness sessions will continue as normal.

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