Introduction:
Premier Skills works with young leaders to help enhance their skills in football, coaching and English language. It is meant to promote positive interaction at all stages and levels, and with active participation, one develops the skills required, this enables one to move forward and be established in the community. This is the first ever training of the kind in Kenya, with comprehensive topics as well as much interaction between the Premier League Coaches and Premier Skills Community Coaches. Premier Skills has been facilitated in Kenya as a result of collaboration between the British Council (BC) – Kenya, and Premier League in England.

 The Six days’ residential training took place at Kasarani International Sports Centre, Nairobi. A total of eight organizations were represented, five being partners of the British Council while two from the Public.
SEP managed to attend the training with two slots of its members, as a public organization. Among the represented organization include the following;
• Society Empowerment Project (SEP) - Oyugis
• Mathare Youth Sports Association (MYSA) – Nairobi
• Ambassadors in sports – Nairobi
• Carolina for Kibera – Nairobi
• Moving Mountains Kenya - Nairobi
• Moving the Goal Posts – Kilifi.
• Transnzoia Youth Sports Association (TYSA) – Kitale
• Ulamba Moving Mountains – Siaya.
In general, a total of 47 people attended the training from the above said organizations.

Training Skills and Approach:
Premier Skills Training was conducted by four Premier League Coaches; Paul, Richard, Mauricio and Andrew. The trainers were well composed, with versed knowledge of their work! The training was well planned, from the lowest to “acceptable standard” as is required of a Premier Skills Community Coach.

Topics covered included:
• Code of conduct as a premier skill community coach – Role Model:
The code of conducts were discussed in a wider perspective, defining what is expected of the premier skills coach, players’ parents and players themselves. This entailed such factors like discipline, control of emotions, fair in nature, organized / prepared and good listening and communication skills, moral support, teach children on time management, good diet, respect both the coach and referee, respect opponents, dress up appropriately, and contribute to team work respectively. Other topics included Session Planning structure, diet, organization and management, community development in sports; players’ centered style of coaching, coach centered coaching approach among others.

Implementation Approach:
The above said topics were approached professionally, with much fun but educative aim. The “fun” approach of the training made the entire session run smoothly, with active participation through out. This trend worked even better with small children as was demonstrated during the luncheon, as they enjoyed every level of the training, as it
advances from light warm ups, technical session, small sided games to cool downs. The theory / class sessions were also well planned and delivered, as it gave conducive room of open discussion and comparing of notes, thus wider understanding among the Premier Skills Community Coaches. The entire class was sub divided into four groups, with each Premier League Coach managing a group. Panel discussions were held after every group had presented their topic, an approach that proved to be very productive in terms of understanding the entire concept of the training. In the field / practical part of the session, it was organized on a rotational basis, such that every group had an opportunity to undergo every session of the day, with each of the premier League Coaches. It was real fun, and educational moment! The photos below explain much;

Social Development / inclusion:
The training provided for free interaction between participants, B.C staff, volunteers as well as the Premier League instructors. This enabled adequate time for Networking among different organizations, while at the same time building more interpersonal relationship. It really proved that sports know no boundaries, race, class, tribe or gender.
It only knows human beings; human beings, who can talk, share, smile, network and attain the common goal of development through sports! From Left; the power of football for social inclusion and development is overtly demonstrated, as people intermingle during and after the luncheon. Richard, Premier league Coach in a light moment with the children during warm up games at a luncheon in Nairobi, Kenya. The entire premier Skills Community Coaches and Premier League Coaches pause for a photo shortly after the luncheon.

Achievements:
• The trainings were well planned and delivered
• The entire session was full of ‘fun’ but educative
• The Premier League Instructors / coaches were players’ centered
• The six days’ event was full of networking opportunities.
• Security was well observed through out the event
• Good diet for ‘a player’ was well provided through out the event
• B.C. staffs in charge of the programme were always available and supportive during the event.

Challenges:
• There was very short time left for personal events/plans
• Leadership structure while in the camp wasn’t well defined among participants
• Too much anxiety among participants led to loss of two footballs.

Way forward / recommendations:
• Premier Skills Community Coaches should replicate the skills back in their communities.
• There needs to be effective communication between B.C, Premier League Coaches and the Premier Skills community Coaches as a tool of follow ups after the trainings.
• B.C. (British Council) should physically visit the trained organization on well arranged schedules
• There is dire need to incorporate the public organizations in the training, into complete partnership with Premier League Coaches and the B.C. This will result into balancing of participants representing the organizations on equal ratio basis. Qualifications to the 2nd phase of the training should be based on both organizations’ and individuals’ capacity to replicate the skills in the local community.

Acknowledgements:
Given the nature of professionalism involved in the entire Premier Skills Training, SEP would wish to sincerely acknowledge the efforts employed by the following organizations;
• British Council – Kenya                            Kudos for the good coordination.
• Premier League – England                      Thank you for the very high coaching Skills
• Nike                                                         Thank you for the beautiful Sports Kits.
• Reading Football Club – England              Thanks for the good T. Shirts and the young Royals Pack!
• Fulham Football Club – England               Thank you for the information pack!
• Represented Organizations in Kenya        Thanks for attending and active participation.

Report Compiled by SEP Sports department,
Approved by SEP Secretary – General,
Festus O. Juma,
Tel: +254 720 864 715

Read this report at SEP website.