GFA hails initiative by Soccer for Dreamers
The Ghana Football Association (GFA) has applauded US-based sports charity organisation, Soccer for Dreamers, for its Ubuntu Online Academy initiative, which is aimed at enabling footballers in the country to have a better life beyond their careers.
“This is a great initiative that should be embraced by every footballer; it holds the key to unlocking a brighter life after football.”
The Vice President of the GFA, Mr Mark Addo, who made the remark at the official launch of the free learning platform last weekend, said the initiative was one that run in tandem with the recently launched GFA Foundation.
“From that perspective, it can leverage it as part of one of the products in its value chain. This is because at the end of the day, it is the GFA’s responsibility to ensure that the footballers, as they develop, have every opportunity to develop beyond just football and their capabilities.
“For me, this is a worthwhile venture; hence, we partnered them to extend their product line in terms of development for our male and female footballers. Also, content is most important; if they can develop a lot more content that people can relate to and learn from, it will be a very great initiative.”
Mr Addo urged the organisation to sit and have a formal agreement with the GFA with specific milestones for the two outfits so that can work together to achieve their goal.
In her address, the president of the foundation, Mrs Sylvia Akwaboah, said the Ubuntu Online Academy, came about after going around the country to engage footballers, both male and female, to understand their needs.
“Our engagements with the players brought about the idea to provide a platform that would train them on how to get into employment and also help with entrepreneurship abilities to get them to have a meaningful life after their football careers.”
She said since the introduction of the initiatives, players were willing to combine playing and other activities to help them to earn something outside football, adding that “these are positive signs that the academy is impacting lives.”
The Country Coordinator of the Foundation, co-founded by Jed, Baruch, and Kayden Akwaboah, Stephane Lecosson, said the foundation will return to the country in the summer of next year to continue with its donations of equipment and support for the various male youth and women’s teams in the country.
The well-attended event brought together footballers, both male and female, heads of secondary schools, club administrators, and business executives.
BY RAYMOND ACKUMEY
