Finding Yourself Through Sport
Korrey, England
HR Sports Academy is dedicated to empowering children and young people with life skills and building a brighter future for youths by enhancing the quality of their sporting, educational and work experiences. Provisions include sport in schools, evening and weekend training sessions, school holiday programmes, a football club, a youth club, day events, tournaments, award ceremonies, workshops, alternative education, apprenticeships, traineeships and work experience placements. The NFL Flag programme uses NFL Flag football to bring people together, strengthen communities and improve the physical and mental health of young Londoners.
My name is Korrey Foster-Obeng and I am 18. I am from north London and I currently study criminology, law, and psychology. I have been at HR Sports Academy for around 12 years and started by attending weekend basketball sessions. I was first introduced to sport at a young age from my family, as I come from a very sporty household.
I have played various different sports. I started off swimming for Haringey Aquatics competing in galas, then followed by trampolining and a bit of athletics. After this I started playing football for around 4-5 years and whilst in my fourth year of playing football I also played basketball. I then stopped playing football completely and now play basketball and NFL flag football.
One barrier I did have to overcome was Covid, as I had to continuously try and keep myself motivated and fit with no clue when I was going to be able to play again.
In the future my ambitions are to become a professional basketball player and make it far, as well as helping others.
What did you try to capture with the photos? Was there a wider meaning?
My photos were taken during my NFL flag football training, and at an NFL flag event I attended. I wanted to show other participants and our enjoyment of the sport. I tried to capture the normal set up of how a training session would be and all the different drills and techniques needed within the sport.
What role does American Football play in your community? Is it an inclusive sport that anyone can play?
American Football is a very fun and inclusive sport which anyone can play. It is very enjoyable and there are loads of different positions to interest participants. I started playing NFL flag football because I found the sport very interesting and I am very keen to try new sports and incorporate my techniques within a sport.
There are quite a few opportunities for women and girls to play sports in my community. However the advertising can be very low, creating a lack of knowledge in the opportunities.
What impact has the HR Academy program had on you and your community?
Sport means everything to me. It gives me something to work hard at and look forward to. It is also an enjoyable experience which can open up so many opportunities.
The HR Sports Academy program has brought together many participants through sports and creates a place for them to learn and showcase skills. As well as making new friends and connections, it also allows them to find themselves through sport.
What do you think the future looks like for sport in your community and country? What do you want to change?
In the future I hope that sport does grow and become more popular so more people experience the thrill of playing. I also hope there are more teams and clubs. I believe gender equality can be improved if everyone treats each other fairly. Both genders can do and achieve the same things within sports.
