Michail Antonio Backs Ghanaian Academy Helping Young Players Chase Premier League Dreams
- Former West Ham United and Nottingham Forest forward Michail Antonio is backing the Samba Stars Academy, a project helping young football players from Ghana spend months in England...
- Operating out of Kumasi while constructing a new facility in Bompata located over 100 miles north of Accra, the academy provides elite coaching and direct pathways into European...
- The touring squad has played multiple fixtures against English youth opposition, opening with a 9-0 victory over Dorking Wanderers and defeating Peterborough's Under-19 team 6-0 in a match...
Former West Ham United and Nottingham Forest forward Michail Antonio is backing the Samba Stars Academy, a project helping young football players from Ghana spend months in England to chase professional contracts.
Samba Stars Academy Brings Ghanaian Prospects to England
Operating out of Kumasi while constructing a new facility in Bompata located over 100 miles north of Accra, the academy provides elite coaching and direct pathways into European football. Nearly all members of the 20-player visiting group initially faced visa rejections before gaining entry following re-evaluation.
During their two-and-a-half-month stay in England, the teenagers have been hosted by Brook House College in Market Harborough and have trained alongside National League North side Harborough Town.
Professional Trials and Match Performances
The touring squad has played multiple fixtures against English youth opposition, opening with a 9-0 victory over Dorking Wanderers and defeating Peterborough’s Under-19 team 6-0 in a match attended by Antonio. Their sole defeat during the trip came against Preston’s Under-21 side.
The exposure has generated significant interest from English clubs. Bournemouth, Everton, Manchester City, Charlton, Preston, Barnsley, and Peterborough have all taken Samba Stars players on trial over the summer.
The talent the lads have is incredible. Our goal in launching Samba Stars Academy was to supply Ghanaian youth with top-tier instruction, develop their on-field abilities, build genuine routes to professional football, and display the vast skill level present in Ghana.
Michail Antonio
Pathways to the Professional Game
The initiative has already produced tangible success. Eighteen-year-old midfielder Listowell Lord Hinneh joined Middlesbrough in February after a trial and has trained with the club’s first team.
Having previously served as West Ham’s head of recruitment and as Manchester City’s international scouting and recruitment manager, Rob Newman has collaborated with the team both domestically in Ghana and during their time in England. Newman expressed confidence in the players’ readiness for European football.
Hopefully clubs can see the potential. Nothing will give me greater pleasure in six months [than] going to see these boys playing in a first team in Europe. I believe they are two or three months away from being able to do that.
Rob Newman