Kanoute launches soccer school in Dubai

Dubai: Former West Ham United and Tottenham Hotspur striker Frederic Kanoute is launching his football school – The Kafo Academy - at Dubai Sports World on June 15.

The 36-year-old Malian scored 239 goals in 593 appearances for club and country. He now hopes to pass on his experience from a 16-year playing career where he won back-to-back Uefa Cups with Spain’s Sevilla in 2006 and 2007.

“The Kafo Academy is the pinnacle of my career – everything I have achieved in my playing days is now letting me look forward and help create the stars of the future,” said the 2007 African Football of the Year, who also played for France’s Lyon and China’s Beijing Guoan.

Led by Kanoute and a team of qualified coaches, the Kafo Academy offers 11 weeks of coaching throughout the summer at Dubai Sports World, which is partnered by Dubai Sports Council, from June 12 to August 30 at Dubai World Trade Centre.

The courses start on June 15 and are available for players aged 4-15.

Classes are available from Sunday to Thursday from 1-4pm, players will follow a development curriculum covering key aspects of the game from turning, ball manipulation, passing, shooting, penalty shoot-outs and dribbling, themed directional practices, skills and tricks workshops and small sided games.

Prices vary from Dh100 for three hours to Dh475 for weekly sessions. From 4-5pm, Kafo will also offer adult 5-a-side football tournaments and leagues.

Before the weekly clinics kick-off, the Kafo Academy will formally launch its UAE operations with the inaugural Kanoute Cup.

The 64-team, 5-a-side contest will be split into four distinct age brackets: under-6s, under-8s, under-10s and under-12s. Each team in the Kanoute Cup can register a squad of up to eight players and entry per team costs Dh500. Team registration deadline is June 7.

In addition to team prizes for winners, Kanoute added the tournament’s best player in each age bracket – identified by himself and his team of coaches – will receive complimentary enrollment in the KAFO Academy when the new school term begins in September.

For more information on the timings and availability of the Kafo Academy sessions, email info@kafoacademy.com or call +971501051999. To enroll in other Dubai Sports World programmes, call +971 4 3064000 or visit www.dubaisportsworld.ae.