Online sports betting company, Betway, has launched the “Betway 12th Man” as part of efforts to empower ex-footballers with skills to live a good life after retirement.
The initiative is aimed at addressing the challenges of ex footballers, who struggle to make ends meet after retirement by providing four-month training to 10 Ghanaian football legends for the start with skills in areas such as coaching, entrepreneurship, sports commentary or broadcasting, finance and event management.
The 10 beneficiaries include Yaw Amankwah Mireku, Abass Hamdia, Adwoa Bayor, Ali Jarrah, Lydia Ankrah and Awudu Issaka, Dan Quaye, Isaac Amoako, Patrick Villas and Peter Ofori Quaye.
Speaking at the launch, the Betway Country Manager said it was a way to honour and train former football heroes who have done so much for the country.
“This would be a life-changing programme for the legends as the country was faced with the challenge of leaving these former players to their fate after serving the country in their youthful days, “he stressed.
After the four-month course, the players would continue with certified courses organized by the Chartered Institute of Marketing Ghana (CIMG) and Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA) before completing a Club Administration and Project Management course.
“We believe that this is the way to go and with a good start, the programme would be maintained to capture more former players next year and beyond, “he stated.
Betway Ambassador, Stephen Appiah praised the outfit for the initiative which he said would go a long way to change the lives of the former players.
One of the beneficiaries, Yaw Amankwah Mireku thanked Betway for the programme and pledged to work hard to use the skills acquired to help their communities.
The former Accra Hearts of Oak player said “this is the first of its kind in the country and as pioneers; we would set a good standard that would be followed in subsequent years.
BY MICHAEL D. ABAYATEYE