Nigerian Afrobeat star Damini Ogulu, widely known as Burna Boy, has established the Burna Boy Football Academy. The first training centers of this academy are located in Lagos, Abuja, and Port Harcourt.
As a “pan African initiative”, the academy aims to boost the development of young African talent. According to its promoters, the club will be providing training program that integrates “football fundamentals with education, discipline, and technique”, preparing players for success both on and off the field.
“A society where the youths are not catered to is no society. My core ambition for this project is to ensure we deliver and create immense opportunities in sports for kids across Africa. I see a continent rich in talent, without opportunity”, said Abubakre Salami, Chairman of Burna Boy Football Academy.
The program is open to two age groups: 4-15 and 16-21, with training sessions held three times a week, each lasting two hours. The academy has also disclosed their intentions to partner with prestigious football clubs across the world. They include Manchester City, Tottenham Hotspur, Leicester City, and Brighton from the English Premier League, as well as Watford from the Championship and Scottish clubs Hearts and Hamilton.
“We strive to engage parents in sports education, emphasizing its importance alongside academic pursuits,” the academy’s representatives stated.
Burna Boy, 33, is not only a celebrated singer but also a songwriter and record producer. He gained widespread recognition in 2012 with the release of “Like to Party,” the lead single from his debut studio album L.I.F.E. (2013). Burna Boy has received numerous accolades, including the Best International Act at the BET Awards in 2019 and 2021. His fifth studio album, Twice as Tall (2020), won the Best World Music Album at the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards.
