‘So proud’ – Crystal Palace star Wilfried Zaha looking to leave a legacy in Croydon with his new academy

Crystal Palace forward Wilfried Zaha has officially launched his WZ Academy and says he is “so proud” about giving back to the Croydon community.

The academy, which will be based at Riddlesdown Collegiate in Purley, aims to provide a positive environment for children to learn, improve and enjoy their football.

Zaha, who scored 11 goals for the South Londoners in the Premier League this season, told the South London Press: “I’m really honoured to be able to start this academy in my community.”

Growing up in Thornton Heath, after his family moved from the Ivory Coast when he was just four, Zaha added: “Croydon has been my home for most of my life, and the opportunity to create an environment for children to learn, have fun, make friends, and have something positive to focus on, is something I am so proud of. We have big plans for the academy. This is only the start.”

The inaugural summer camp is available for boys and girls aged five to 12. The coaching sessions will be led by ex-Palace academy player Dan Pringle – a UEFA B licensed coach and the current Corinthian-Casuals assistant manager.

Pringle, who was in the same age group as Zaha during his time with the Eagles before being released at 18, says: “We believe with my coaching background and Wilfried’s stature and influence in Croydon, we could create something really exciting for the local community.

“As Croydon boys, we understand the challenges young people may face – especially outside of school hours. Wilfried more so had a challenging upbringing, so providing a positive environment for children to learn, improve and have a good time is rewarding for us both.

“We also know what a hotbed of talent Croydon is, so to be able to work with children with lots of potential and to improve them further is really exciting.”

The academy has also teamed up with former Crystal Palace women’s defender Pam McRoberts, who will act as a mentor during the summer camp by delivering training sessions and offering advice to the players.

The Wilfried Zaha Academy will launch on July 26 and will run until August 27. For more information, see  www.wzacademy.co.uk