Craig introduces the foundation, its academy players and unique development league.
“I used to support Manchester United but now I support Manchester City.” Dennis Cole, aged 11 from Congo Town, has been chosen to be part of the first generation of the Academy.
“People call me ‘Old Age’ because when I play football I’m a big man.” Issa Bangura wont have far to travel as he is from Tombo village where the Academy has been built.
Profile of Santigie Koroma, Sierra Leone’s up and coming young rapper with an interesting taste in on-pitch fashion, who has been selected as one of 16 boys for the first generation of the Academy.
Craig introduces the foundation, its academy players and unique development league.
The Craig Bellamy Foundation Academy aims to offer young children the opportunity to reach their true potential in life through sport and education. The Craig Bellamy Foundation Academy will run as a fully residential international school, offering five year scholarships to children aged eleven and above.
In May 2009 the League commenced. Ten leagues, featuring 16000 registered participants and 85 Sierra Leonean staff, took part across f regions: Freeton, Kenema, Bo and Makeni. Further phases will see the league develop to incorporate girlʼs leagues and leagues for the differently-abled.
In 2008 Craig Bellamy founded Sierra Leoneʼs first professional football academy and a unique nationwide youth development league to empower a new generation of talent to change their own and their communities lives for the better.
FREETOWN – 1 July, 2010
A WARM welcome awaits the first generation of Academy boys from the Craig Bellamy Foundation and official partners Security Support Group International (SSGI) when they return to Freetown from Ghana on 1 July, 2010.
Youngsters from the first ever Football Academy in Sierra Leone, who went through a vigorous selection procedure before [...]
Craig first visited Ghana to spend time with his first generation of academy boys and then travelled onto Sierra Leone to see the progress of the academy, meet the boys parents, local press, partners and watch league games.
Both the Times newspaper and the BBC travelled with Craig – here are their excellent features:
The Times: Craig [...]
The Craig Bellamy Foundation
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Right to Dream.
