TOTTENHAM AND ORIENT GET THEIR KICKZ WITH FUTSAL

LOCSP Press Release: Thursday 16th April 2009

TOTTENHAM AND ORIENT GET THEIR KICKZ WITH FUTSAL

Leyton, London – SCORE was the venue on Tuesday night as Leyton Orient took on Tottenham Hotspur in an U16 Kickz ‘Orient v Spurs’ Futsal match-up in recognition of the final Spurs reserve match of the season at the Matchroom Stadium on the same night.

The Spurs Kickz team was made up of players from the joint Leyton Orient and Tottenham Kickz session at Kelmscott Leisure Centre whilst the Orient Kickz team featured players from the Orient Kickz session at Tom Hood School.

In a close, hard-fought match, the mixed Orient & Spurs side beat their Orient counterparts 14-10.

After the match, both sides made the short trip across Oliver Road to the stadium to watch Spurs reserves play Arsenal reserves in the Barclays Premier Reserve League South derby.

Both Kickz teams posed for a half-time photo with Spurs players John Bostock, Takura Mtandari, David Button and Jacques Maghoma.

A strong Spurs side featuring a host of famous names including Gareth Bale, David Bentley Gilberto, Pascal Chimbonda, Ben Alnwick and Jamie O’Hara ran out 2-1 winners, thanks to two wonder goals from Bentley.

After the match, John Mensah, Leyton Orient Community Sports Programme (LOCSP) Development Coach, who organised the Futsal match-up said:

“As Spurs were playing their last reserve match of the season here in Leyton we thought it would be an ideal opportunity for our Kickz teams from opposite sides of the borough to test their skills against each other.

“It was really good to see the skills on show and then to be able to take them across the road for such a classic derby. Even though it was at reserve level the match had some great players on show, with two sensational goals scored by David Bentley.

“Both our Kickz teams had a great time and really enjoyed themselves – they were a real credit to themselves.”

LOCSP run Kickz across Waltham Forest with sessions every Monday (6pm – 9pm) at Kelmscott Leisure Centre, every Friday at Thomas Gamuel Park (6pm – 9pm) and every Monday, Wednesday and Friday (6:30pm – 9:30pm) at Tom Hood School.

For more information about Leyton Orient Kickz in Waltham Forest please contact John Mensah on 020 8556 5973, email john.mensah@locsp.org or visit the website at www.locsp.org.

Notes:
1. Kickz was created by the Metropolitan Police and the Premier League and is now managed nationally by the Football Foundation who oversees Premier and Football League club community teams across the country, working in partnership with local authorities and police safer neighbourhoods teams. 2. Kickz sessions are not solely about football, although they do offer the opportunity to take part in football leagues, tournaments and coaching sessions. A core part of the scheme includes educational sessions about issues such as healthy lifestyles and the dangers of drug use and carrying weapons. The scheme offers young people in the most deprived areas the chance to take part in activities three nights a week, 48 weeks of the year.
3. Kickz offers young people (12-18 yrs) the chance to develop their talents, with opportunities for education and training. Many of those who have taken part have gained qualifications, including FA Level 1 football coaching awards. Over 400 young people in London have volunteered at Kickz projects. Many of these young people who are giving back to their communities are going on to gain employment, including some who now work for the clubs community schemes.