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Man Capital LLP, the family office of Egyptian billionaire Mohammed Mansour, has entered into a $120-million investment agreement with Ghana’s Right to Dream football academy, marking a historic corporate financial injection into African football.
The funding is projected to amplify the academy’s role in honing football talents, representing an unprecedented level of investment in the continent’s football sector. This collaboration underscores a commitment to a purpose-driven global football strategy.
One of the partnership’s primary goals is to broaden the academy’s capacity by accepting more male and female players, intensifying talent development within Ghana. Additionally, it will promote the training of more local coaches.
The cash injection will also establish a new Right to Dream academy in West Cairo, Egypt. This initiative mirrors the success of academies in Ghana and Denmark and includes forming a professional women’s football team in Egypt.
Tom Vernon, CEO of the Right to Dream Group, expressed optimism about the partnership. “This alliance is a strategic step towards realizing our full potential, setting a new paradigm in purpose-driven sports,” Vernon said in a press statement. He emphasized the academy’s 20-year journey in leveraging football for social transformation, offering children life-altering prospects through sport and education.
“Our global expansion, including ventures in Egypt and Europe, showcases Ghana’s capacity to export its football ethos alongside its players,” Vernon added.
Mansour, chairman and founder of Man Capital, also remarked on the deal. “We’re excited to partner with Right to Dream, recognizing their transformative impact on talented youngsters across multiple continents,” Mansour said. He reaffirmed his commitment to nurturing African communities through various philanthropic endeavors.
The Right to Dream Academy is a unique educational and football training model for students aged 10-18. Founded by a Welshman in Accra, the academy faced early challenges before relocating to New Akrade, near Akosombo, in Ghana’s eastern region.
Significant support from partners like Vodafone, instrumental in the academy’s educational endeavors, helped shape its trajectory. Notable alumni include Majeed Waris, David Accam, and Mohammed Kudus.
In 2016, the academy expanded its footprint by acquiring FC Nordsjælland, introducing the Right to Dream methodology to Denmark. The recent launch of a state-of-the-art residential academy in Badya, West Cairo, cements its status as a premier football institution in Africa and a significant contender globally.
