This week we chat with Keenan Kyle Sholayan, a qualified sports conditioning coach and founder of KKS Coaching Academy, who uses his skills to improve the lives of the boys he coaches.
What service do you offer?
I offer sports conditioning for all sporting codes and I specialise in football coaching.
When and how did your business start?
I started my business after Merriefield College hired me as a junior coach and a year after that I became the first-team soccer coach. I wanted to find a way to help these boys improve their skills and that’s what made me offer extra coaching lessons after practices and on weekends. I then created a business platform that can help many players through physical training and by watching my videos on social media, where I give tips for boys to become good footballers and go to the next level.
What inspired you to start your business?
The late Nigel Dixon was my coach from 2016 at Bush Bucks until about 2018. He taught me that football can be used as a tool in other aspects of life.
What experience or qualification do you have?
I’ve coached at Hudson Park High School for about five months, under Malusi Mxoli. I have also been working hand-in-hand with Matthew Geech at All Stars Academy to help him develop his academy boys for advanced training from 2021-2022. I worked at Selborne College and this was a huge benefit in terms of on-field and gym conditioning work. I’m a qualified sports massage therapist and I have my first aid level one qualification. I also have my national diploma in coaching sciences and this year I will be graduating towards my higher certificate in sports conditioning before moving onto my degree. I’m a qualified Olympic lifting coach and speed and agility coach.
What is the main goal of your work?
My main goal is to encourage the youth that sport can be used for many purposes and that they can achieve all things that they put their minds to. I want to build a community development project to support and help communities develop kids in terms of all sporting fundamentals.
What do you think sets you apart from other similar training programmes?
I’m still very young and eager to learn. I relate a lot to the boys who come into my development programme.
What challenges have you faced and how did you overcome them?
I was not getting enough support but that changed as the boys starting seeing improvements, which led to more boys wanting to join. Instagram has been a huge benefit as it targets the demographic that I support.
Do you have any proud moments that you have had in your business so far?
I’ve started off with players not being first-team material and turned them into first-team players.
What are some of your goals for 2023?
My main goal is to add a holiday club for boys to help improve their fitness and educate them on eating habits while they have fun. I want to get the academy up to 40 boys by the end of the year. We are at about half that.
What advice do you have for someone who is interested in a similar line of business?
Allow errors to occur as you always learn from them. Never turn down help from outsiders as getting different perspectives will help you in the end.
Is there anything else that you would like our readers to know?
At the end of May, I will be starting an online training programme that will allow the public to have access to me over a Zoom call and get help with a programme designed specifically for you three days a week, with a monthly fee. More details will follow on my social media.
How can our readers get hold of you? (Contact details and social media)
Contact details: 081-325-1185.
Email: kkscoaching910@gmail.com
Instagram handle: @kks_coaching
Facebook handle- Kks Coaching
