Hassocks Junior Football Club celebrates young footballers in Hassocks and Ghana

Hassocks Junior Football Club which provides footballing activities to over 500 youth players from Hassocks and the surrounding communities recently had their awards day which was held at the home of Hassock FC men’s team.

This was an opportunity to celebrate all the achievements of the bright young players in the junior teams, some as young as 5 up to 15 years old and approaching their last season with HJFC. The day was a big success and the club was joined by founders of the Akwaaba Volunteers project in Ghana, Africa that the club supports. HJFC previously donated all their past football kit to the project where football plays a big part in helping children access education and healthcare using the power of sport to unite communities and give children a brighter future.

Akwaaba Volunteers have been operating in Ghana since 2016 working with over 1000 young people and families in the local community. Ex-Fulham Juniors player King Boateng who joined in the awards celebrations told young HJFC players “playing football will help you build self-confidence and teach you important life skills.” He added that “…award or no award, you are all amazing because you keep trying and you keep
learning how to succeed through playing football.”

There was an opportunity for parents and young people to learn more about the project and tosponsor a pair of boots for a young person in Africa who doesn’t have their own football boots. The Club Chairman, Stuart Doyle said, “It has been great for coaches and players in Hassocks to see how football changes lives for the better in other parts of the world where children are less fortunate and to see our kit go directly to the children who need it most. Everyone at Hassocks Juniors is very proud of the work that we do as a club and to see other communities benefitting from football and enjoying having a good kit and new boots to play in. We would like to thank all those who support the club and the community work the club is involved in.”  

To find out more about Akwaaba Volunteers and the street to school football project see: http://akwaabavolunteers.org.uk/. If you would like to support a child through sport and education (£12 a month) you can contact the project founders via the website.