7 Elite Academy Tanzania coaches Amri Kiemba and Thomas Morris have described the “amazing” experience of working at tryouts in Utah. The pair work with young people in the Tanzanian city of Dar es Salaam, as part of 7 Elite Academy’s global coaching and education program.
They were invited to Utah last month to exchange ideas on coaching techniques and show US-based players some of the skills youngsters learn in Africa.
7 Elite Academy is a youth football program that works with thousands of youngsters in the United States, United Kingdom and Africa.
Morris, who is Head Coach at 7 Elite Academy in Tanzania, believes the ideas he exchanged will prove important to youngsters in both academies.
He said: “My time in Utah with 7 Elite Academy was amazing and I learned a lot. In all areas of life, there is always something new to experience. The standard of soccer in Utah is improving all the time and I saw a lot of great things from players at tryouts in Saint George and Salt Lake City.
“The facilities were very well organised and I am very grateful for the chance to coach as part of 7 Elite Academy. I think the most memorable experience was watching a match while it snowed!”
Both coaches previously played top-flight soccer in Tanzania, with Kiemba having played 31 times for his country and scoring six international goals. The visit was part of a program that sees players from the USA, UK and Africa enjoy regular exchange visits to learn and play in different cultures.
“I learned a lot in Utah that I can now use with players in Tanzania,” Kiemba said.
“It was a great experience in terms of culture, social exchanges and the coaching environment. The tactics, management, facilities and coaching methods at 7 Elite Academy in Utah are all of a very high standard.
“There are a lot of people I want to thank for making the trip happen and giving us this experience.”
Anthony Godfrey, Global Technical Director at 7 Elite Academy said: “Thomas and Amri already work closely with other coaches as part of our global coaching program, but we wanted to take that partnership to another level.
“By bringing them to Utah, staff could exchange ideas with Thomas and Amri, and create new development opportunities for coaching and players. This is a regular program that we are continually expanding, so we can take advantage of the global nature of our academy structure.
“Our staff also have access to world-class coaching learning materials, such as Sport Session Planner and The Coaches’ Voice Academy. By investing in the development of our coaches, we know this will have excellent long-term benefits for players in the USA, UK and Africa.”
7 Elite Academy administers and coaches teams for thousands of players across the world, in the United States, the United Kingdom and in East Africa.
