Ghanaian Youth Football Academy Backed by Michail Antonio Tours England to Secure Club Trials

A Ghanaian youth football academy supported by former English Premier League forward Michail Antonio has completed a two-and-a-half-month showcase tour across England, aiming to earn professional contracts for young West African players.

The Samba Stars Academy, which is based in Kumasi and building a new facility in Bompata, brought a 20-man squad to Leicestershire to train and play against English opposition. Bringing an entire academy squad directly to the United Kingdom to perform in front of scouts is an unconventional approach for West African football programs, which typically rely on European scouts visiting the region.

The trip encountered initial administrative challenges when 19 of the 20 travelling players had their initial visa applications rejected, though all were eventually admitted after a re-evaluation process. During their stay, the squad was based at Brook House College in Market Harborough and used training facilities belonging to National League North side Harborough Town. Former West Ham head of recruitment Rob Newman assisted with coaching the squad both in Ghana and during their stay in England.

On the pitch, the team played a series of matches against English Football League and non-league youth sides. Their fixture list included a 9-0 victory against Dorking Wanderers, wins over under-21 teams from Luton Town, Sheffield Wednesday, and Peterborough United, as well as draws against Sheffield United and Barnsley. The team’s single defeat during the tour was a 3-2 loss to Preston North End’s under-21 team.

The tour resulted in trial opportunities with several English clubs, including Bournemouth, Everton, Manchester City, Charlton Athletic, Preston North End, Barnsley, and Peterborough United. Additionally, 18-year-old striker Sherif Mashud earned a trial with Hungarian top-tier side Zalaegerszegi. Reflecting on the challenge facing young Ghanaian players, Mashud noted, “You have to have a tough mentality.”

Antonio, 36, watched the squad beat Peterborough’s under-19 side 6-0 during the trip. Commenting on the project, Antonio said, “It’s great to help knock down barriers and give these lads a real chance.” The academy had previously seen success in February when 18-year-old midfielder Listowell Lord Hinneh signed with English club Middlesbrough following a trial. Goalkeeper Joshua Tetteh Tuwor, 17, highlighted the technical benefits of the tour, stating, “The football [here] is very detailed.” Head coach Freddie Okyere expressed hope that the academy’s developing infrastructure in Ghana will allow them to rank among the top academies in the country and continue placing players in European leagues.

Background

Ghana has established a prominent presence in international football, qualifying for five of the past six FIFA World Cup tournaments and reaching the quarter-finals in 2010. While the national team has traditionally developed domestic talent, the Ghana Football Association has increasingly explored options to recruit players from the global diaspora, including eight overseas-born players included in a recent World Cup squad.

A number of Ghanaian players currently hold contracts with English clubs, building on a history of West African players in English football that began when striker Nii Lamptey joined Aston Villa in 1994.