With the start of the new school term fast approaching, children at West Ham United Foundation’s Holiday Hammers Summer Camps were treated to a surprise visit from the new men's centre-back partnership.
Maximilian Kilman and Dinos Mavropanos joined the Foundation’s coaching team for an afternoon of activities at Bobby Moore Academy Primary School as part of the Club’s Players’ Project.
Met by smiling faces and great excitement, Kilman and Mavropanos were quick to get involved in the fun upon arriving at the session.
The pair rotated around small groups, offering coaching advice and words of encouragement for young footballers keen to show off their skills. For most of the Foundation’s Holiday Hammers it was their first time meeting a Premier League footballer, an experience which 12-year-old Kimari said he wouldn’t forget.
“I normally play in central midfield or at centre-back, so it was good to get some coaching tips from two professional players,” he smiled. “They told me I need to keep working hard and stay focused, but when I can to try and get my head up and look to pass the ball about.
“Being here the last two weeks has been great. I have learnt so much about sportsmanship, respect and how to stay aware on the pitch.”
Open to children aged between five and 15, the Holiday Hammers course provides a safe, friendly, and enjoyable environment for young people to make new friends, improve life skills and develop their football ability during the school holidays.
Each day of the course involves teamwork, communication, self-directed and engaged learning, as well as a focus on a specific technical element of the game, with coaches delivering a range of drills and practices in the morning, followed by fun games in the afternoon.
Kilman, who has impressed on the pitch since his summer transfer from Wolverhampton Wanderers, shared his thoughts on the session and the work of the Foundation.
He said: “It’s lovely to see a huge club like West Ham having this kind of organisation that is helping its youth, because it’s great for their development.
“Football is a sport that brings everyone together, so when you have time off from school, coming to play football just puts a smile on your face and gives you a chance to interact with others.”
As the Hammers’ players met more than 50 children throughout the afternoon, they continued to share advice on everything from defending and the importance of teamwork and communication, to how to celebrate goals with maximum enthusiasm.
Having prepared some questions, following interactive games the children were delighted to be given an opportunity to hold their own version of a press conference.
Kilman and Mavropanos were put through their paces in a quick-fire round of questions, covering topics such as what it’s like to be a professional footballer, who their role models were growing up, and which teammates they would choose to be stuck on a desert island with.
Mavropanos said: “I wish I could have had this chance to meet a professional football player when I was young, because as a kid it was always my dream to be coached by one.
“You can see how much the kids enjoy it, and it was the same for me when I was young. If they enjoy playing football and try their best, then in the future they could be one of the lucky ones who makes it as a professional.”
The Players’ Project sees the men’s, women’s and Academy squads support key areas of community work that matter to them; advocating for key causes and helping to educate, motivate and inspire people.
Like many young players, Kilman faced rejection earlier in his career and is one of a small group of footballers who made the direct leap from non-league to the Premier League.
After making his top-flight debut in 2019, the 27-year-old is an example to all aspiring players that it’s never too late to make it to the top.
Kilman added: “My route’s been incredibly unique compared to a lot of professional footballers, but if I was offering advice to an eight-year-old me, I would say enjoy playing football and work as hard as you can, because opportunities can arise at any given time.”
To find out more about the Holiday Hammers programme and booking details, click HERE.
