Published: August 6, 2025
Brunei — What began as a modest grassroots effort in Myanmar has grown into a cross-border football academy that now spans multiple countries. But for founder Stages Albert Kamara, the mission is far from complete. His ultimate goal lies closer to home in Liberia, where the journey first began.
For more than 16 years, Kamara’s Power Soccer International Academy has offered boys and girls between the ages of 5 and 18 a path not only to improve as athletes but to develop as responsible leaders and future professionals.
“Some of our kids have been with us for six or seven years,” Kamara said in a recent interview with Prime FM’s Sports Track. “The academy helps student-athletes transition into coaching, education, and other areas. Football is just the entry point.”
The academy has become a melting pot for aspiring footballers from across Asia, Africa, and Europe. Through football, Kamara has created a space where cultural differences dissolve on the pitch.
“Coaching is like fatherhood,” Kamara said. “You guide, you care, and you teach. But beyond the kids, the real challenge is earning the parents’ trust. That’s the toughest part in grassroots football.”
New Ground in Brunei
Kamara expanded the academy to Brunei after facing institutional resistance in Myanmar. Brunei, by contrast, welcomed his vision.
“We got full approval from the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Schools,” the 43-year-old explained. “The government embraced the project. The challenge now is finding local partners who share our long-term commitment.”
Today, the academy oversees the entire grassroots development program for a Brunei-based club that competes in AFC-sanctioned tournaments. “We run their youth system from the foundation level to U-15,” Kamara said. “Right now, we’re playing in the Brunei National U-15 League.”
To maintain sustainability, Power Soccer operates dual tracks, a fee-based program for recreational players and a scholarship-supported high-performance stream for elite athletes. Talented players are groomed for national programs and international competitions, often with support from parents and, in some cases, national authorities.
Unlike many academies, Kamara’s model rejects commercial entanglements with player contracts.
“When they leave to join clubs, we don’t ask for 10% or 20%,” he said. “Our goal is to help them grow, not profit off them.”
That ethical stance has helped Power Soccer earn credibility. In 2022, when a sponsorship deal for a planned international tournament fell through — costing the academy $85,000 — Kamara refunded the sponsors in full.
“We didn’t make it to the Gothia Cup,” he said, referring to the world’s largest youth tournament. “But I made sure we returned the money. It’s about relationships, not transactions.”
The academy’s coaching staff reflects its global reach. Through platforms like LinkedIn, Kamara has recruited coaches from Europe and Asia, including professionals with ties to clubs such as Sporting Lisbon, Inter Milan, Juventus, and Borussia Dortmund.
In addition to leading the academy, Kamara is a certified physical education teacher and sports director. He balances his responsibilities in Brunei with international coaching education programs, having trained more than 5,000 coaches through partnerships with U.S.-based organizations.
A Dream Deferred: Returning to Liberia
Despite his growing commitments abroad, Liberia remains central to Kamara’s long-term vision.
“Bringing the academy to Liberia isn’t off the table,” he said. “It’s my dream. I’ve always said — once Brunei is stable, I’ll look into it.”
He maintains strong ties with former teammates and fellow Liberian coaches such as Dgeorges Manubah and Melvin George, who run youth football programs back home.
“What they’re doing is amazing,” Kamara said. “If I return, it will be to contribute, not compete. I want to complement what already exists.”
Kamara has hinted at retiring from overseas engagements by age 50. For him, a return to Liberia is not about personal ambition, but about legacy.
“This isn’t about me,” he said. “It’s about opportunity, sustainability, and giving back, wherever I go, but especially where I came from.”
As Power Soccer International Academy expands into Laos and Malaysia, Kamara’s focus remains grounded in mentorship, equity, and the transformative power of sport, values he hopes to one day embed in Liberian football at scale.
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