City Duo Surprise Soccer Course Youngsters

Marcin Wasilewski and Kieran Kennedy attended the LCFC Community Trust Summer Football Coaching Course at Blaby Stokes Primary School, Queens Road, along with over 60 pupils, who all had the chance to meet the Foxes stars. 

Community Coach Adam Martin believes the courses are great social events for the children and meeting professional footballers provides an added bonus to what was already a thoroughly enjoyable week for all involved. 

He told LCFC.com: “I think these courses have grown in popularity. The player visits make a great difference as well. “What we do with the kids on the courses is lots of technical work and small-sided games. We work on all the technical aspects of the game and it’s in a fun environment. 

“It’s not just the football side; it’s great socially for the kids to come down here. They meet new people and make new friends, and that encourages them to play football and keeps them off the PlayStations! 

“I don’t think the players realise what an impact they can have until they come down and see the faces of the children. 

“During the session Marcin and Kieran were really getting into it and interacting with the kids, which just shows what a positive impact they can have on the lives of these children. 

“We did a lot of ball mastery work and we had Kieran demonstrating the tricks and turns that you can do with the ball. It was great to see the kids try to mimic that.” 

And Development Squad centre-half Kennedy enjoyed the experience, signing autographs, posing for photos and joining in a training session with the youngsters. 

He said: “I don’t think they knew we were coming, but it was really good to come down and surprise them. It was a great turn out too. 

“When you see their faces and you get a reaction like we did, it’s really nice and makes you feel good. 

“They’re only young, and you never know one day they might be doing what we’re doing and I think they really enjoy this. 

“When I was younger and I saw a first team player at a course like this I idolised him.” 

Afterwards, Adam summed the event up, saying: “It’s fantastic that they do come down and it makes their week that the kids can get to see their heroes, as well as getting the opportunity to play with them. 

“One lad in particular, when he saw Marcin, he was in tears. When you see things like that it makes the week worthwhile.”