Pressured by people’s consistent denigration, and her mum’s repeated shedding of tears over her criminal acts, Kuku started having a rethink- his answer to change was starting a football academy
By Liam Josh
Alaak Kuku was born in greater Yei in Central Equatoria state, South Sudan, from a humble background. Kuku had no education, and had lost interest in pursuing the line owing to the hardships he was going through as a young boy.
Despite not having a feel for school, Kuku had deep passion for football. He lived, dreamt and talked football.
”I never loved school since I was a child. What I loved the most was football,” he reveals to The City Review sports Desk during an interview.
In 2016, Kuku left his boyhood town of Yei and moved to the capital Juba when fighting broke out in the greater Yei County.
Upon arrival in Juba, life took a twist, a line that would stain his reputation and cast dark in an otherwise hopeful future in his quest for an opening in the city. Life became a hard nut to crack for the young Kuku, who was now living with his uncle in the suburbs of Shirkat.
Kuku joined one of the notorious gangs in the city, the famous Niggas, a group that terrorized and haunted residents, stealing and meting violence across the streets.
Notably, most people in Juba know the dreadful acts of the famous two gang sects in the city- Niggas and Toronto.
Alaak Kuku, founder of Young Dreams Football Academy. [Photo: Courtesy]
Kuku says he joined the outlawed group for the accompanying prestige, influence and the freedom, which he says, he saw most of its members had. Meanwhile, he adds, the lack of proper guidance was another push for membership.
Kuku admits facing arrests many times, and living a life of fear of being caught by the authorities. Surprisingly, he found himself going back to the gangster lifestyle once he was let free. Reforming became a real challenge, and he was digging deep into the dreadful street life. He admits to having been jailed three times.
”When I came out of prison, I could not settle. I went back to the hood, to the same criminal groupings, which led me to another arrest, repeatedly. I was arrested three times” he says.
Pressured by people’s consistent denigration, and her mum’s repeated shedding of tears over her criminal acts, Kuku started having a rethink. He began having a feeling for change of attitude. It was time to revise his acts, and go back to the drawing board, he thought.
”When people started talking bad about me, when they started viewing me as a useless human being, someone who could not do anything for himself, it hit me. Then, my mum was also crying so much about my unlawful behaviours,” he says.
The power of constructive criticism, and constant call to change, as well as the tears of a mother, would soon take a toll on Kuku, and have him reverse his ways. He started stay away from risky behaviours, and turned to light.
His best answer was what he loved most- football. Playing football regularly was not enough. He felt there was a bigger calling. So, he started a football academy, right where he started life in the city- Shirkat.
Young Dreams Football Academy is today symbol of peace, and change- a transformation of one’s life from gangsterism to impact.
”I wanted to change the lives of my friends, be an influence and a possible role model. And how best could I do this? Through football,” he says.
Kuku became a pillar and a beacon of hope for his peers. He began to advocate for peace among the gang members, who still held to the believes in their outlawed actions. His academy started off with seven of hist friends, who had reformed and embraced the spirit of change.
From the seven friends, most of who were boys, the academy’s membership grew to twenty, and it grew so wide.
Today, the academy has had an impacted to close to 700 youngsters.
Most of the boys in Kuku’s neighbourhood regard him as a role model, as he has given them hope and changed some from crime to positive playmaking in the society.
One of Kuku’s childhood friends, Aleu Kongor, who also in his camp, acknowledges the positive change that comes with doing good.
He revealed that through the academy, and the advocacy for sports to change habits, Kuku has changed many lives.
”I wanted to change the lives of my friends, be an influence and a possible role model. And how best could I do this? Through football,” Alaak Kuku, a reformed youth running a football academy.