Boris is not built to be a soccer
player; he has the dimensions of a rugby player and indeed proved the
point when to took out a former German international at the Madejski
Stadium in a charity match and also tripped up a young lad on one of
his inner city visits to a football pitch. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iWIUp19bBoA&list=RDiWIUp19bBoA
He kept his feet under
control at Millwall recently, on astro turf, when he was backing the
London Premier League Kicks scheme, a spin off from the nation wide
Kicks programme.
The Mayor's office (£200,000) and EPL
(£800,000) are giving money to support this scheme, offering
educational and sporting career opportunities to vulnerable teenagers
in the most depressed parts of the capital. Over 1300 teenagers have
benefited from being given the chance to make something of their
lives rather than join a gang, or waste away. Kicks want youngsters
be to “part of their gang”.
Nkemjika Eka is 19 and was at Charlton
Athletic at their academy, but he was dropped by them at 16, after a
back injury, he found himself drifting into bad habits. He was
offered Kicks and after practising and engaging with the coaches two
times a week, he took coaching qualifications and is now at
university doing Sports' Science and works for the Charlton Kicks
campaign.
The Metropolitan Police have a share in
the scheme and figures suggest that gang crime is down in the city.
12000 youngsters are provided with regular football in London, many
just keeping fit but others are making the most of what is available
to them.
Boris can use this successful
private-public social partnership in his electorial campaign this
year. With latest figures showing that the “Get Inspired” legacy
of 2012 is not working, perhaps this grand scheme that brings people
together, provides opportunities and gets the population fitter
should be part of the present government's electoral drive?
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