The Grassroots Team Going To The World Cup | The Grassroots Hotline Podcast Ep.16

Shakeeb Abukor is the founder of TD Academy - Total Dedication. In this episode of The Grassroots Hotline Podcast, we sat down with Shakeeb at Wembley to talk about his journey, his love of football, and why TD Academy has become so much more than just player development. Shakeeb worked at Wembley from 2014 to 2024. It was there that his passion for football, opportunity and community grew into something bigger. Today, TD Academy supports players with their development, confidence, mindset and journey in the game. For Shakeeb, football is not just about ability on the pitch. It is about belief, support, family and helping players through the moments people do not always see. We also spoke about a huge moment for TD Academy, after Shakeeb's team won a 3v3 tournament at the Merky FC HQ event, earning a fully funded trip to the World Cup through Adidas. In this episode, we discuss: Why Wembley means so much to Shakeeb The story behind TD Academy Why football is more than just a game Supporting players beyond the pitch Mental health, pressure and young players The importance of family and trust Winning a trip to the World Cup Why players need belief, patience and direction Shakeeb's advice for players choosing the right club Shakeeb's LinkedIn:   / shakeeb-abukor-b6a3a7253