Sentinel Football Academy ("Sentinel FA", "we", "us", or "our") is committed to protecting the privacy and personal information of our players, parents, guardians, staff, visitors, and website users. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, store, share, and protect your personal information when you visit sentinelfa.co.zm (the "Website") or interact with the academy in any other way.

This policy is provided in accordance with the Data Protection Act No. 3 of 2021 of the Republic of Zambia and, where applicable, the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) for visitors from the European Economic Area.

1. Who We Are

Sentinel Football Academy is a youth football development academy based in Kalumbila, North-Western Province, Zambia. For the purposes of data protection law, Sentinel FA is the data controller of the personal information described in this policy.

2. Information We Collect

2.1 Information You Provide to Us

• Player registration details (full name, date of birth, gender, nationality, position)
• Parent / guardian contact details (name, phone number, email, physical address)
• Emergency contact and medical information relevant to player safety
• Enquiry messages sent through our contact or trial registration forms
• Any information you send us by email, WhatsApp, or social media

2.2 Information We Collect Automatically

• IP address and approximate geographic location
• Browser type, device type, and operating system
• Pages visited, time spent, and referring links
• Cookies and similar technologies (see our Cookie Policy)

2.3 Information About Minors

Because Sentinel FA works primarily with young players, most of the personal information we hold relates to minors. We collect this information only from, or with the consent of, a parent or legal guardian. If you believe we have collected information about a child without proper consent, please contact us immediately so we can remove it.

3. How We Use Your Information

We use personal information for the following purposes:

• Processing player registrations and academy enrolment
• Communicating with parents and guardians about training, matches, and events
• Ensuring player safety, health, and welfare
• Responding to enquiries submitted via the Website or by email
• Managing academy operations, staff, and volunteers
• Complying with legal, safeguarding, and football governing-body obligations
• Improving our Website, services, and academy programmes
• Sending updates or newsletters where you have opted in

4. Legal Basis for Processing

We process personal information on the following legal bases:

• Consent — for photos, marketing, and non-essential data
• Contract — to deliver academy services you have enrolled in
• Legal obligation — for safeguarding and regulatory requirements
• Legitimate interest — to operate and improve our academy
• Vital interest — to protect a player's health or safety in emergencies

5. Sharing Your Information

We do not sell or rent personal information. We may share it only with:

• Coaches, staff, and volunteers who need it for academy operations
• Football governing bodies (e.g. FAZ) for player registration
• Medical professionals in case of injury or emergency
• Service providers such as our web host, email provider, and analytics tools
• Law enforcement or regulators where legally required

6. How Long We Keep Your Information

We keep personal information only for as long as necessary for the purposes described in this policy, or as required by law. Player records are typically retained for the duration of the player's time at the academy plus a reasonable period thereafter for safeguarding and legal reasons. Enquiry messages are kept for up to 24 months.

7. How We Protect Your Information

We take reasonable technical and organisational measures to protect personal information against loss, misuse, and unauthorised access — including secure passwords, restricted staff access, HTTPS on our Website, and regular backups. No method of transmission over the internet is 100% secure, so we cannot guarantee absolute security.

8. Your Rights

Under the Zambian Data Protection Act No. 3 of 2021, you have the right to:

• Access the personal information we hold about you
• Request correction of inaccurate or incomplete information
• Request deletion of your information, subject to legal limits
• Object to or restrict certain processing
• Withdraw consent at any time (e.g. for photos or marketing)
• Lodge a complaint with the Data Protection Commissioner of Zambia

To exercise any of these rights, contact us at info@sentinelfa.co.zm.

9. Children's Privacy

Our Website is not intended to be used directly by children under 18 without adult supervision. We rely on parents and guardians to provide and manage information on behalf of younger players.

10. International Transfers

Some of our service providers (such as web hosting and analytics platforms) may store data outside Zambia. Where this happens, we take reasonable steps to ensure your information receives an adequate level of protection.

11. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. Any changes will be posted on this page with a revised "Last updated" date. Continued use of the Website after changes take effect means you accept the updated policy.

12. Contact Us