Cezar attended his first Premier League Kicks session at Hadley Stadium back in September 2024 after his father struggled to find free football opportunities in their local area of Smethwick.
Luckily, The Albion Foundation had contacted Devonshire Junior School Academy with Kicks promotional leaflets, and since then, Cezar hasn’t looked back.
He has become a regular attendee at Gospel Oak, Goals, George Salter, and Hadley Stadium, making him a retained and sustained participant across all evening centres in and around Sandwell.
From the very beginning, Cezar has shown his enthusiasm for the programme, and hasn’t missed a single Friday evening session at Hadley Stadium, a testament to his enjoyment of Kicks. He has developed close relationships with other participants and consistently impresses Foundation coaches, volunteers, and Legacy Leaders with his energy and passion for every session.
This has not gone unnoticed by his family, and his father believes his sense of belonging has improved considerably since joining.
He said: “He feels like Kicks is like a family, and what helps is he has a different coach for each evening centre. The coaches speak to him like he’s known them his whole life, they respect him, and he respects them for this.”
Cezar participated in the Black History Month Celebration Tournament for Year Four and Five participants, representing Ghana in competitive matches. He was awarded the Endeavour Trophy for his passionate goal celebrations, positive attitude toward others, and one touching moment where he stayed with an injured participant on the sidelines to ensure they were okay.
This demonstrated The Albion Foundation’s core values and highlights Cezar’s strong sense of sportsmanship.
One of the standout moments in Cezar’s Kicks journey so far was meeting Albion men’s players Ted Cann, Jayson Molumby, and Lewis Dobbin at Goals, Dudley in September.
The players joined the session, shared their journeys to the elite level, and signed Cezar’s training top, which he now proudly wears to every session.
This unforgettable experience inspired him to become an even better player and reinforced his commitment to football.
Reflecting on an evening meeting the Baggies first-teamers, Cezar said:
“My best moment was meeting the players and getting my shirt signed. I loved doing the flags; it was exciting and cool.”
The enthusiasm and confidence he gained from these moments have had a clear impact on his development - according to Kicks Coach Asaif Ali:
“Cezar is a very bubbly character," Asaif said. "His enthusiasm for football is contagious, and he has a great attitude - he always wants to play, play, play.”
Fellow Kicks coach Josh Breeze also highlighted the importance of family support in Cezar’s journey:
“Cezar is a popular face on Kicks sites," Josh said. "We see him near enough every night of the week, and it’s great how his dad stays and watches him. This gives him the support and encouragement a young person needs.”
Driven by the recommendation of Community Engagement Lead Jordan Hall, Cezar attended his first training sessions for Bartley Reds FC U9s, a grassroots football club, in November. Cezar hopes to be offered a permanent place on the team, which would allow him to play competitive football alongside his recreational involvement in Kicks.
Cezar’s father believes that Kicks has shown him a pathway to improve his wellbeing through competitive sport.
He said: “Cezar has always been highly motivated to do well in school and life, but he hasn’t had the opportunity to showcase this outside of school. Kicks has given him the chance to do this, and it shows that hard work pays off.”
Beyond football, the programme has improved Cezar’s confidence and sense of belonging, his father says.
He said: “He feels like a star when he has his photos taken. It was a great moment for our family. He’s even lost 1kg in weight and made a lot of friends at each venue.
"When he wakes up, he always asks, ‘Today is school and football, right?’”
Kicks has had a profound impact on Cezar’s physical and mental wellbeing. Through regular participation, Cezar has stayed active and improved his fitness levels. One of his coaches, Jordan, has also observed his growth in confidence and positive behaviours.
“Cezar is the epitome of Kicks," Hall said. "He walks in and out of sessions with the same smile on his face, regardless of how he feels he has performed. This shows a testament not only to his character but also to how our coaches interact with him.
"We want to ensure Kicks is not a pressurised environment.
Cezar shares that sentiment and continues to enjoy sessions due to the friendly environment created by his coaches.
“I love football and like the coaches at Kicks,” Cezar said: “I know so many people now.”
Fostering a community atmosphere within the group has helped Cezar feel at home, and his father agrees.
He said: “Kicks has really helped him know more people and feel like part of a team.”
Cezar has shown immense growth in his footballing abilities since joining Kicks. According to Coach Asaif:
“His skills have come a long way,” Asaif said. “He’s become very good at holding the ball up and bringing others into play.”
Coach Josh reinforced this, highlighting the importance of regular attendance and parental encouragement.
“It’s great to see how much Cezar has improved over the weeks," Josh said. "Having his dad there watching him at nearly every session really makes a difference.”
The programme has also boosted his self-esteem, which is evident in how he embraces new challenges with enthusiasm.
Cezar’s father is especially thankful for the free sessions. He said: “The quality of the sessions is outstanding, better than clubs I’ve taken him to that charge fees. This is why I’m happy to take Cezar to Kicks four times a week.”
With the skills, confidence, and friendships he has gained through Kicks, Cezar’s future in football looks bright.
As he continues to progress, his story is a shining example of how the Premier League Kicks programme transforms lives, not just on the pitch but in every aspect of a young person’s development.
The Albion Foundation's Premier League Kicks sessions have helped Cezar through developing in accordance with the following Kicks' objectives:
- Participants enjoy engaging in football and sport.
- Participants have improved interpersonal relationships.
- Participants demonstrate more positive behaviours.
- Participants feel inspired and engaged.
- Participants have improved confidence and self-esteem.
- Participants develop their skills and knowledge.
- Participants participate more in competitive sport and physical activity.
- Participants have improved physical wellbeing.
- Participants have improved mental wellbeing.
- Children and young people progress into pathways.
To find out more information about our Premier League Kicks