E-commerce platform, manchester city train Ghana’s young football talents

An international e-commerce, wellness and lifestyle company, QNET, in partnership with English football club, Manchester City, has organised a world-class football coaching clinic for young football talents in Ghana as part of efforts to empower youths and support sports development in Africa.

The four-day football clinic, held in Accra from May 21 to May 24, brought together 25 talented boys and girls between the ages of seven and 11 from different communities across Ghana.

The training sessions were conducted by official Manchester City coaches at AIS School Park in East Legon, where the children received professional football coaching, mentorship and life-skills training designed to improve both their sporting abilities and personal development.

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Organisers said the initiative was aimed at giving young Africans access to opportunities that can help them dream bigger and build confidence through sports.

Speaking during the programme, Trevor Kuna, the chief of network development at QNET, said football remains a powerful tool for youth development because it connects people from different backgrounds and inspires ambition among young people.

According to him, the clinic was not only about identifying football talent but also about helping children develop discipline, teamwork, perseverance and self-belief.

“Football does something that few things can, it cuts across language, background and circumstance and gives young people a common language of ambition. When you watch these children on the pitch, you see not just their talent but their hunger to grow, to prove themselves, to be seen. At QNET, we believe that hunger deserves to be met with opportunity, and that is exactly what this clinic is about,” Kuna said.

Cherif Abdoulaye, QNET’s deputy regional general manager for Sub-Saharan Africa, said the company decided to bring the initiative to Ghana after witnessing its impact in Nigeria in 2023, adding that Ghana’s deep football culture and passionate young players made the country a natural choice for the programme.

“When QNET took this initiative to Nigeria in 2023, we saw first-hand what happens when young people are given access to world-class coaching in their own communities, it shifts something in how they see themselves and what they believe is possible. Bringing it to Ghana felt like the natural next step. Ghana has a football culture that runs deep, and a new generation ready to carry it forward. We are proud that QNET and Manchester City can be part of that story,” Abdoulaye said.

Philipa Harrison, partnerships marketing manager for City Football Group’s MENA region, also praised the enthusiasm and commitment shown by the participants during the clinic.

“Over the past few days, we have witnessed tremendous passion, energy and commitment from these young players. This football clinic is about helping young people develop their abilities, enjoy the game and believe in what they can achieve in the future. We are proud to partner with QNET to bring this experience to young players in Ghana,” Harrison said.

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QNET has maintained a partnership with Manchester City for more than 10 years as the club’s Official Direct Selling Partner.

The company also partners with the Confederation of African Football (CAF), supporting major competitions such as the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League and CAF Confederation Cup.

According to the organisers, the partnerships reflect the company’s commitment to youth empowerment, community engagement and sports development across Africa.

They added that beyond sports initiatives, the company continues to promote ethical business practices, transparency and public education across its markets while working with authorities to prevent misuse of its brand by unauthorised persons.