About — Satino Football Academy

The Neighborhood

Sinoni, Arusha

Sinoni sits within the city of Arusha, surrounded by the landscape of nearby Mount Meru. It is a neighborhood defined by its community spirit, its markets, and its people.

Around 71% of people in Arusha live below the poverty line of $3.65 a day. For many young people in Sinoni, imagining a different future is genuinely difficult. The academy gives them a reason to show up. And somewhere to belong.

The Tindiga

Our training ground is what locals call "tindiga" — wet lands. It floods with Arusha's frequent rains, then dries into hardened, rocky earth. It is not a conventional field. It is ours, and we make it everything we need.

The Academy

Founded April 2023

Satino Football Academy was built on one principle: no child in Sinoni should be kept from playing because of money. We are the only completely free academy in the city of Arusha. Equipment, transportation, meals, tournament fees — all covered. 121 youth. Ages 5 to 18. Five coaches, all hired locally.

Our coaches are not just coaches. They do home visits before every player signs their TFF-registered contract. Not for legality. For commitment. For community. They are brothers, mentors, and the kind of role models that Sinoni builds from within.

What We Teach

Lessons That Last

Football is our classroom. What we build on the pitch, we send into the world.

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Teamwork

No individual wins alone. Every drill, every match, every season is an exercise in collective responsibility.

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Accountability

Players sign TFF-registered contracts. Commitments matter. That lesson extends far beyond the pitch.

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Leadership

Older players mentor younger ones. Every age group has something to teach and something to learn.

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Empowerment

We remove financial barriers so that those with less can see a path forward, in football and in life.

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Global Reach

We compete internationally and build bridges between Tanzania, the Netherlands, and the United States.

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Identity

Knowing where you are from is the foundation of knowing where you are going. Our players carry Sinoni with them.

Track Record

In Under Two Years

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Academic Impact

Parents across Sinoni report measurable improvement in their children's academic performance after joining the academy.

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Satino Queens

Girls' team built out in 2024 and made official in 2025. Opening competitive football to young women in Sinoni, where it has long been absent.

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Tanzanian National Youth Team

One SFA player was selected to the national youth camp in Tanga. He lives at camp, trains with professional coaches, and receives three meals a day. The highest level of youth football in Tanzania.

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Chipkizi Cup — 2023 & 2024

The largest youth international tournament in Southeast Africa. Our U15 went undefeated in group play in 2023, came back from 2-4 down in one match, and reached the quarterfinals against Kenya's Midcity Soccer Academy. Our U13 made it to the semi-finals in 2024. chipkizicup.com

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Focus Foundation

Partnership with Focus Foundation and its leader Tess, who brought in projects completed by Ajax Amsterdam, Vodafone Ziggo, Montessorischool De Meidoorn - Amsterdam, M.S.V.'71 - Maassluis, and Bauhaus ArtITech.

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Young Boys Academy

A player selected to the Young Boys Academy in Arusha, established by Danish club Young Boys FD, competing in Denmark's 3rd division. This reflects our philosophy of developing talent and moving players up to the next level.

Governance

2025 Constitution

Satino Football Academy is registered under the National Sports Council Act of Tanzania and affiliated with the Tanzania Football Federation. Our constitution reflects our commitment to transparency, community governance, and FIFA training principles.

Download the 2025 Constitution

About Satino