Priory Park FC have completed ‘stage one’ in their efforts to build a football academy in Senegal, but co-founder Kirt Hussein knows there is still work to do before their dream becomes a reality.

Last year, the Crouch End outfit announced its intention to open an academy in Zinguinchor, Senegal, the hometown of Priory Park coach Saidou Jarju.

The club needed an initial £10,000 to purchase land for Ziguinchor PPFC Academy, which has now been raised, thanks in part of to the effort of one player’s dad, who raised £3,500 through a bike ride across Canada.

Now that stage one has been completed, Priory Park can now begin phase two, which starts with clearing the land they have purchased.

Then, the club can build a surrounding wall around the land and also plant the grass needed for the academy.

Once that is complete, the academy’s classrooms, changing facilities and toilets can then be built.

Hussein believes the remaining work will see Priory Park need to raise a further £6,000 in order to complete the project.

Once the academy is open, it is hoped a well will be dug so that the facility can provide itself with its own water supply.

As for the electricity needed to power the academy, those planning the project are looking into the possibility of installing solar panels.

A caretaker is also likely to be required to look after the property, though Priory Park believe one will not be needed for some time yet.

While they are looking to get the fundraising for the second phase of the project underway as soon as possible, Priory Park have already sent out a second shipment of boots, kits and football accessories to Senegal.

Jarju has also recently returned from his hometown, where he spent four weeks coaching the local youngsters.

At the time of writing, the club have not set up a fundraising page, but are asking anyone who is interested in donating to contact them by visiting the club’s website at www.prioryparkfc.uk, by finding the club on Facebook, or sending an email to prioryparkfc@gmail.com.It seems Priory Park are coming close to making their dream a reality in Senegal.