Statistics show a majority of juvenile and adult inmates in the United States come from fatherless homes—a statistic that helped inspire Bayonle Arashi to create Midas Football Academy.
How it started
The academy, located at 15227 Old Richmond Road in Sugar Land, was created with the goal of providing guidance, mentorship and positive role models for young people through sports, said Arashi, who serves as the organization's executive director.
“When I worked in the criminal justice system as a correctional officer, I saw what can happen when young people lack access to opportunity, structure, mentorship and life skills,” he said.
Arashi said those experiences pushed him to create a structured solution for local youth. In 2020, he began developing Midas Football Academy, but it didn’t start operations until 2023.
“Our mission is to empower youth in Fort Bend County and the Greater Houston area through mentorship, leadership development, life skills and career readiness programming,” he said. “We use the power of soccer to build discipline, resilience and a pathway to lifelong success.”
How it works
Arashi said the academy operates three core programs designed to serve youth, with the first being the “Right to Play” model, which focuses on youth soccer development. He said the program is designed to address barriers in youth sports access.
“Soccer in America is pay-to-play, and not every child has access,” Arashi said. “We provide a safe space and access to the game. We serve ages 5 to 15, and our fee is $72 a month—but if parents can’t afford it, we still don’t turn any child away.”
The academy also offers a structured mentorship initiative called "Iwuri," which means "aspire," he said.
The six-month program for teenagers ages 13 to 18—which is hosted twice a month with one in-person and one virtual class—combines leadership development, vocational training, mental health support and mentorship.
Meanwhile, the organization’s third program focuses on workforce pathways outside of college.
“Our third program is the Houston Futures Mentorship Initiative, where we pair young people with vocational experts,” Arashi said. “People working in vocations like auto repair or skilled trades so they can learn pathways apart from going to college.”
Why it matters
Arashi said the academy’s goal is to give youth a clear sense of direction.
“We want every player to know they have no excuse not to be successful, that there is a strong community supporting them,” Arashi said. “There is no reason for them to go down the path of crime when there are other options available.”
