By Misbah Rasheed | Asst. Program Manager
Karachi United’s Sponsor a Star Program: Nurturing Future Champions
Karachi United (KU) remains dedicated to empowering young athletes through its Sponsor a Star program, a transformative initiative launched in September 2024. Karachi United offers its most talented players, who are handpicked from the various Community Centres & the Youth Program Centres into the Academy. This is a specialized program designed to nurture world-class talent focusing on players’ mental, physical & emotional development, led by Coach Imran Ali, UEFA “A” License
The focus of development is:
Includes training facility, coaching, kits, transportation and exposure trips
Includes uniforms, school fees, course books, transportation, and extra circular costs.
Includes monthly grocery provision, health and first aid education, and insurance coverage.
Since its inception, Sponsor a Star has enrolled 14 emerging athletes under the age of 12, all selected on merit for their exceptional potential. These children hail from communities where families earn an average of $40 to $100 per month, often struggling to meet basic necessities like food, education, and healthcare. Despite these challenges, these children have shown remarkable talent and resilience, earning their place in KU’s Academy.
Over the past quarter, Karachi United’s Sponsor a Star Program has made significant strides in nurturing young footballers from underserved communities, ensuring their development across football training, education, and nutrition. Intensive training sessions, led by Coach Imran Ali (UEFA “A” License), focused on skill enhancement, tactical awareness, and fitness, with players engaging in video analysis, stretching exercises, and strength conditioning. The KU Academy team also gained international exposure by playing against Aspire Academy in Doha, Qatar. In line with its commitment to talent development, KU has been scouting 2,400 young players, shortlisting 400, and final selection trials to be conducted for 40 promising footballers based on their skills, attitude, and commitment by May 2024.
Academic growth remained a priority, with all 14 Sponsor a Star players continuing their formal education at Al-Furqan Welfare Organization’s schools, where they received full scholarships, specialized tutoring, and mentorship to balance studies and sports. A structured daily schedule ensured players effectively managed both their academic and athletic commitments.
Moving into the next quarter, the program aims to identify and recruit new talent, expand its nutrition and academic support programs, and offer increased competitive exposure, ensuring these young athletes continue to develop into well-rounded footballers and future leaders. Through these sustained efforts, Karachi United remains committed to breaking barriers, creating opportunities, and shaping the future of football in Pakistan.
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