... of the West African Football Academy (WAFA)

ACCRA / NAARDEN, June 28, 2016 – For the next five years, Cocoa from Ghana will be the official shirt sponsor of the West African Football Academy (WAFA). A sponsorship agreement was signed in Ghana on 21 June. WAFA plays in the Ghanaian Premier League and is one of the biggest football academies in Africa. WAFA talents are regularly drafted by international football clubs.

This partnership highlights the many similarities between cocoa and professional sports. Like football, growing and harvesting cocoa is all about teamwork: it's about keeping your eye on the goal, passing the ball and going for the win together. In both examples, hard work is rewarded and fair play is the standard.

'This sponsorship will open new doors for our club,' says Sam Arday, technical director of WAFA. 'We are proud to wear the Cocoa from Ghana brand on our shirts and hope it will increase awareness for the Ghanaian cocoa industry,' adds Karel Brokken, managing director of WAFA.

Cocoa from Ghana spokesperson Joost Bellaart agrees. 'This is a win-win situation. It demonstrates Ghana's passion for football while simultaneously promoting their key export product.'

Collaborating on top results
Cocoa from Ghana supports a wide range of sports; it is head sponsor of the successful Dutch women's handball team and also sponsors Dutch long jump athlete Ignisious Gaisah, who was born in Ghana. Cocoa from Ghana recently entered into a strategic partnership with the Ghana Olympic Committee. A one-year sponsorship agreement was signed, with plans to extend the agreement until after the 2020 Olympic Games in Japan.

About Cocoa from Ghana
Cocoa from Ghana is an initiative of the Ghanaian cocoa industry and aims to raise awareness for its product. The global demand for cocoa is approximately 4.2 million tonnes, 800,000 tonnes of which comes from Ghana. With Amsterdam as the world's largest transhipment port for cocoa beans, the Netherlands is a major trading partners for the Ghanaian cocoa industry.

About WAFA
The West African Football Academy (WAFA) was founded by the Feyenoord Football Academy. In 2014, the academy adopted the infrastructure of Red Bull Ghana and relocated to Sogakope, roughly 120 kilometres east of the capital city of Accra. The club has a state-of-the-art training facility and an adjacent stadium that can accommodate 1,000 visitors.