of 11 and 16 initially, the academy is a registered international school in which they study for their international GCSEs, with scholarships in the UK and USA available based on academic performances.
“A lot of academies in Africa are focused on football, and only do the education side because they have to. Its so amazingly difficult to become a footballer. For a normal job, you have to be talented, and you have to be hard-working. That will be enough to get you through university and have a good career. To be a footballer, you also have to be lucky. Luck is a massive part of becoming a great footballer. If you have a bad day when the scout comes, get an injury at the wrong time – that’s the luck factor. Why would you bank on the thing that requires luck?”
On the face of it this might appear slightly defeatist, but this provides a much more well-rounded experience for the kids at the academy, providing them with a vital back-up option should they not become professional footballer they always dreamed of. After all, Africa’s relationship with football makes it a different ball game when it comes to pinning your hopes on something. In a context where the trafficking of young players from West Africa to Europe by fake agents is rife, driven by the dream of appearing on a Puma billboard like Didier Drogba in their home country, it is easy for an academy to see the kids as a tradable commodity.
is easy for an academy to see the kids as a tradable commodity. CBF’s role in ensuring some sort of future through a balance of education and football is highly commendable, as they aim not just to produce footballers, but regular people too.
“Boys at the academy do 10-15 hours of football a week, and 25-30 hours of school a week. They’re very busy and have a phenomenal work ethic. If you don’t have a fallback option, you’re in big difficulties. No reason you can’t work hard at both”
“Most academies only guarantee two or three years, whereas we guarantee five. At the end of five years and they’re not the footballer we thought they were going to be, then that’s not their fault, that’s our fault. We sell the dream, because we believe they can become professional, but sometimes we advise them that – when they get the end of their time with CBF – that maybe a fully-paid scholarship in the UK or the US might be the best option. And if that’s the worst case scenario from being at the academy, then I’d say that’s pretty good”.
Links with the likes of Manchester City, Liverpool and Cardiff City has meant that young Sierra Leoneans are now “in the system” of clubs all over Europe, and should be ready to break out over the coming years as they develop. And having been a key part of the reputation of the academy being enhanced so much, it is no wonder the SLFA pricked up their ears.