The father of the late teenage soccer player, Kiyan Prince, has expressed his wish to meet the individual responsible for his son’s death in order to assist him in starting afresh. Mark Prince had planned to visit Hannad Hasan, who was serving a life sentence for fatally stabbing his 15-year-old son, a member of Queens Park Rangers’ youth team. However, the prison canceled the meeting last minute, and Hasan was subsequently extradited to Somalia.
Kiyan tragically lost his life while intervening in a fight outside his school in North London back in May 2006. Since then, Mr. Prince, a former WBO and IBF titleholder, has dedicated his efforts to The Kiyan Prince Foundation, which focuses on mentoring youth through boxing.
In commemoration of the twentieth anniversary of his son’s passing, Mr. Prince is launching a new initiative called The Champions’ Club, advocating for increased investment in youth services nationwide. In an interview with the Daily Mirror, he shared, “I was eager to meet the individual who took my son’s life, which may seem unusual to some, but to me, it was a logical step.”
“We understand the profound impact of grief, which could provoke feelings of anger and vengeance, but I chose a different path,” he continued. “I had processed my grief to a point where I wanted to embody the values I instilled in my son – love and forgiveness, principles derived from a loving deity.”
Mr. Prince’s foundation, situated at the Tottenham Community Sports Centre in Haringey, North London, has positively influenced over 100,000 young individuals in England and Wales. Approximately 80% of participants in its Inspiring Future Changes program felt motivated to make positive changes in their lives or support others in doing the same.
Additionally, Mr. Prince has provided support to various families affected by violence, including the parents of Harry Pitman, a 16-year-old fatally stabbed while waiting to watch New Year’s fireworks over the Thames. Reflecting on his initial reactions to his son’s death, Mr. Prince shared his struggle with feelings of revenge and anger towards the perpetrator.
Turning his personal tragedies into a force for good, Mr. Prince has channeled his experiences to empower parents and young individuals, emphasizing their potential and opportunities rather than focusing solely on the negative aspects of violence and crime.
In 2024, Mr. Prince was honored with the Helen Rollason Award at the BBC Sports Personality of the Year event for his exceptional work supporting at-risk youth. Research conducted by the Kiyan Prince Foundation revealed that less than half of young Britons feel optimistic about their futures.
Mr. Prince has urged the government to offer greater support to young people feeling marginalized by society. Through his campaign, he aims to secure increased investment in youth services, creating spaces named after Kiyan to help young individuals regain a sense of empowerment.
The Kiyan Prince Foundation highlighted the importance of youth clubs as vital support systems for youngsters in need of structure, security, community, and belief. Adequate funding for such establishments is crucial to prevent youth from seeking belonging in harmful environments like gangs.
Last year, Sir Keir Starmer announced plans to enhance youth services, allocating £30.5 million to improve youth club infrastructure in areas with high child poverty rates. These efforts aim to provide meaningful support to vulnerable children who may feel isolated or neglected.
To contribute £20 to the Kiyan Prince Foundation and support the call for more youth clubs in the UK, text CHAMPIONSCLUB to 70490. Standard network rates apply, plus the £20 donation.