Keeping dreams alive: Cleats4Kids Foundation helps make soccer affordable PUBLISHED:

Signing up for youth sports can often be expensive.

According to a 2023 report by Solutions Research Group, Canadian families spent over $2,500 per teenager, annually, on organized and casual sports. Activities with additional equipment costs raised that number to over $4,000.

That is why when midfielder for the Thompson Rivers University (TRU) WolfPack men’s soccer team Akwasi “Junior” Agyekum had the chance to make a difference and help out in his community, he seized the opportunity. What started as just a simple idea between him and his friend Ameen Alizada quickly turned into reality when they created the Cleats4Kids Foundation, which aims to help provide those that cannot afford it with soccer equipment and other resources so that everyone can enjoy the sport.

Having played soccer growing up, Agyekum says he understands the difficulties that come with being involved in sports.

“I got into organized soccer, but it was a bit of a struggle to start because organized sports in Canada, in general, are often quite costly,” said the Calgary native.

“People that struggle on the financial side still have these dreams, and hopefully we can really help them achieve their goals regardless of their current situation.”

As a track athlete for the University of Calgary, who also coaches children’s soccer in his spare time, Alizada said he felt the same need as Agyekum to do more and give back to his community after seeing the state of the equipment that was being used.

“Both of us have played soccer all our lives, and we’ve gained a lot from the sport, like physical literacy, and making connections through soccer, in clubs and in university,” said Alizada.

“I saw a need for the kids who couldn't pay registration fees, and with the team I coach, I saw taped-up and ripped cleats.”

What started with just two people has now expanded to their extended friends as well. The duo says their social group has been going out to contribute and try to raise awareness for the cause.

“When you have something compelling that will help the lives of others, I think mostly everyone is really on board and eager to help,” said Alizada.

“There are a couple of other guys that are out at events and helping out. We definitely would not be able to do it without those guys, and we are looking to expand the team and get some more volunteers here and there as we grow and get bigger.”

Being connected to a university certainly helps to spread the word. John Antulov, the Head Coach of the WolfPack’s men’s soccer team, has been in full support of the Cleats4Kids Foundation from the very beginning.

“They all love the game of soccer, and I think they just saw a need there to try and help kids out,” said Antulov.

“It’s great to see young guys be able to think in that way and want to give back. It’s worked out and it’s really gaining traction right now.”

The continued growth of the foundation has led to many more opportunities to work with different organizations and soccer programs of all levels, such as the Alberta Children’s Hospital Foundation and TRU’s men’s soccer team, among others. Antulov calls the decision to partner with Agykeum and his foundation a “no-brainer.”

“It’s something that we have done in the past, collecting used soccer equipment,” said Antulov.

“We’ve brought other people on board with the Kamloops Youth Soccer Association, trying to help Junior and his friends to really make his foundation work and help kids as much as possible.”

Both the founding members agreed the greatest assurance to what they have been able to achieve so far has been the positive response from the community. Partnered with the Eastside Memorial Football Club, a charity match intended to help raise equipment for participants facing financial insecurity was a huge success.

“They had seventy to eighty kids out there, and we brought fourty pairs of cleats and a bunch of clothing that had been donated to our drives,” said Alizada.

“Seeing the smiles on the kids’ faces, it was a rewarding experience to see the work that me and Junior put in manifest itself into something where we’re helping others.”

As student-athletes who already need to find a balance between demanding academic programs and high-level athletics, in addition to managing the Cleats4Kids foundation, both Agyekum and Alizada say they are more than willing to continue doing all that, especially if it means they are making a difference.

“I feel like Ameen and I both have the same common goal. We're both really passionate about it,” said Agyekum.

“When something is this important, you make time for it.”