Help me be the first British Indian Professional Goalkeeper

Hello! My name is Junayd Vorajee. I am a 17-year-old goalkeeper from Lancashire with a dream to become the first British Indian professional goalkeeper.

Thank you for your interest in supporting me. My aim is to get to Dallas (USA) this Summer for the next stage in my professional goalkeeper development.

I have been offered a chance-of-a-lifetime invitation to the Michael Johnson Performance Center, for 6 months elite athletic and goalkeeper training, and work with the development team of FC Dallas of US Major League Soccer.

The Athletic and Goalkeeper Training Development program will involve:

• Pre-Evaluation Structural Analysis
• Corrective Exercise Grid (Injury Protection Program)
• 5 Day Training Week in the Elite Program
• 3-4 high intensity training units – develop body strength & movement speed
• 1-2 low intensity training units – develop mobility and regeneration
• Vision/Sensory training 1-2 days per week
• One to one professional GK training in MJP/FC Dallas Program
• Physiotherapy, Contrast Hydro and Normatec Compression recovery sessions
• Performance testing to measure effectiveness and functional status

About Michael Johnson Performance Training

MJP is the world’s number one sports performance center, with the best coaches and equipment for elite sports person development. The training is endorsed by Nike and covers injury protection, body dynamics and sport specific training.

Michael Johnson is the legend American athlete, 12 time Olympic and World Gold Medalist and World Record Holder. The center also works with Arsenal Football Club to help power and speed development of their youth players since 2012.

My #Offer

In my dedication to make this happen and in gratitude for your support, the campaign has been made with prize draws,  where I’m giving up some very valuable and personal items to me.

Your donations will not only help me, but also give you the chance to win some amazing prizes, based on your choice in the donations section.

I have set a small minimum donation level to protect the value of the collector items for the draw to take place. I think this is fair to all as well as myself, so I can reach my fundraising target in exchange for these rare items.

Prize Draw 1: (five prizes – one prize per winner – value £70)

• Premium Professional Level Goalkeeper gloves as worn by myself and several professional goalkeepers. 

Prize Draw 2: (one prize – minimum 20 donations – value £450)

• Limited Edition Collectors Item – 1 of only 500 made – signed and framed with COA Wayne Rooney England Home Shirt 2003/5.
• This is the shirt to celebrate Rooney becoming the youngest ever England goalscorer  v Macedonia in 2003.

Prize Draw 3: (one prize – minimum 15 donations – value £600)

• Unique Collectors Item – Man Utd Home Shirt 2008/9 with 16 autographs including Ronaldo, Rooney, Tevez, Giggs and more.
• This was obtained at Carrington Training Complex by family friend Tomasz Kuszczak, number 2 goalkeeper to Van der Sar.

Prize Draw 4: (one prize – minimum 20 donations – value £1800)

• Limited Edition Collectors Item – Set of 3 Adidas World Cup Final Balls (including extremely rare 2006 Gold Ball).
• These were the balls used in the final of 2006, 2010 and 2014, with match imprint details on the balls. All new and unused.

Each prize draw will take place after the campaign has ended and the minimum donation level is met. I will contact the prize draw winners by email so please include your email address in your contact information. The prize draw results will also be put on my Facebook and Twitter accounts.

Other funding options

I am also offering some non prize draw related items for your donations, including free tickets to watch Man Utd play at Old Trafford. Matches will be offered on availability and on a first pledge first offer basis. Please see the donations section for details.

There are also brand promotion opportunities for interested parties (e.g. social media promotions/brand exposure). With an international sport and media contact base and increasing social media following, the exposure is a great value opportunity. Please email [email protected] to discuss.

My #Story

I have loved playing football since primary school, kicking a ball at every opportunity. I joined a local junior football team aged 9. I was what many would call an overweight kid, so goalkeeper became my position by default! Without any real coaching, I was doing well and enjoyed my role.

I went to a sports focused secondary school. Aged 14 and still a little ‘overweight’ I applied for the school academy, which required to do GCSE PE. I was playing well in junior leagues, but the sports coach didn’t believe I had the ‘right tools’ to do well in PE. I didn’t get on the course and not play as the academy goalkeeper.

I started dedicated goalkeeper training twice a week, focused on my body issues and training. I developed successfully to progress my playing level to represent my college academy team in the English Colleges FA League, and for a semi-professional club youth team in the FA North West Youth Alliance League.

My #Achievements

In November 2014, I won the U18 category in the Search for an Asian Football Star at Wembley, a national competition to find talented footballers from the Asian communities, organised by a partner company of Derby County FC.

After four regional trials of over 500 players, I reached the final 32 as the only goalkeeper. I was chosen as the winner by judges including a Nike World Soccer Freestyle Champion, UEFA Qualified Academy Coach, Arsenal FC Development Team scout, and Pro Football Academy Director. 

This led to professional club interest, including Leicester City FC Academy. I have attended four trials this year, with one successful outcome, and attending a further trial with Championship Division club Brentford this month.

However, knowing several players released by clubs, and statistics of 96% of academy players at 16 never play again at 18, or 98% of players signed pro at 18 never play again at 21, I wanted better routes of development for me.

After looking at USA Soccer opportunities last year, I went to an assessment trial which resulted in being invited to join the USA Soccer Scholarship program with the same organisation who manage the The Football League LFE program.

A visit from Michael Johnson to England and Arsenal Football Club training grounds last year led to the opening for athletic and soccer development programs for youth footballers. After successful discussions, the Director of Performance provided me with this opportunity.

My #Promise

I promise to work 100% every day for your trust in me. I have a chance that so far has been given to only two young footballers in the UK outside of the Arsenal FC partnership. My athletic and goalkeeping ability will develop to elite level and increase many times over my chances of becoming professional.

I am grateful for being offered such a great opportunity, and strongly believe the long term benefit for my professional goalkeeper development and dream is best achieved from being at Michael Johnson Performance and FC Dallas.

No words could describe what your support would mean and to reach my target. I receive no funding apart from my family who have helped as much as they can, so all contributions will help and make a huge difference.

Please help me to get there. Have a look at the 2 min video below about me. Not the best quality but hope you like it.

See how Michael Johnson Performance will help me become a pro goalkeeper by clicking here: https://youtu.be/efL2nS63XWk

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My #Update

I am so grateful all the current fundraising efforts for me has helped me to get to Dallas. I will begin my performance training at MJP proper from next week, and am glad to say I have received a GK spot in the FC Dallas U19 Youth team after successful try outs with them. The facilties here are truly geared towards helping youth development.

I know I made the right choice and sacrifices to come here, and continue to need your support to help reach my target. Some additional soccer training costs have arisen due to try out success, so please continue to support my efforts. FC Dallas Youth standards are high, and training and performance levels in my next months here will certainly test and develop me 🙂

Thank you.

Junayd 

“Dream Big Work Hard Be Humble”