Profile: Frankfurt Football Academy in Akwatia

General Information about the Frankfurt Football Academy in Akwatia, Ghana - Frankfurt Babies FC

The Frankfurt Football Club in Ghana was founded in 1995 by a student named Kadiri Mumin, who was a big fan of Eintracht Frankfurt football club in Germany hence the adoption of the name Frankfurt F.C.

Founder Mr. Kadiri Mumin is still with the club and currently holds the position of the team manager and head coach. Frankfurt FC originally started with only U-12 boys, hence the nickname "The Frankfurt Babies". The team grew from strength to strength and was registered with the Eastern Regional Juvenile Football Association in 1996 and became affiliated to the Ghana Football Association the same year. The Frankfurt Babies football team was registered in the U-12 and U-14 division respectively and participated in the district league and qualified to play in the Regional Milo Tournament which Frankfurt Football Club won in the U-14 division.

The football club is situated in the diamond mining town of Akwatia in the Eastern Region of Ghana and currently has players in 5 age groups in their football academy (residential) namely U-10, 12, 14, 17 and Second Division players.

Frankfurt FC are also affiliated to Ghana Education Service (Kweabibirem District) who provide excellent tuition for the players. Currently there are about 100 players in the Frankfurt Football Academy who receive a scholarship. The young football talents are educated there, fed and taught their football skills at grass-roots level. As a result of their excellent and impressive performance, they have managed to secure a contract with Meeme Business Ventures owned by Mr. Baba Jamal who is the current managing director of the Frankfurt Football Club and its academy. There has being a vast improvement in all fields of the football club ever since Mr. Baba Jamal joined the club and assisted with his financial contribution and managerial directives.

As part of Baba Jamal's directive, the club has implemented a six year development plan which is already in operation and is now in its third year. The six year development plan is aimed at scouting for the best, most talented football players nationwide, the development of these scouted football talents and their exposure to international scouts, coaches, clubs and licensed football agents. The plan also has one big achievement on the agenda: to get the first generation of football talents of the Frankfurt Babies into the National Premiership League in Ghana by the sixth year. Currently Frankfurt FC plays in the Second Division League and is hoping of to getting promotion into the Local First Division by next year.

The Frankfurt Football Club also participates in the District, Regional and National Colts Championship annually. The football club and their academy enjoys a lot of success there. Frankfurt Babies Football Club is currently the best youth side in the nation. The team is full of soccer experience, athleticism and pure love for the game of soccer. Each player brings a unique strength that is shared, developed and shaped to define this exceptional team. Individual players with international playing experience share their talents to raise the abilities of the entire team.

Although these youngsters are all exceptional athletes, they are also academically proficient. Since the players come from all over the country, from Akwatia, Boadua, Kade, Asamankese, Nsawam, Accra and other regions of Ghana to practice and play together, it is a testament to their dedication and discipline that they are able to balance their academic and athletic endeavours with such a high degree of success. The majority of players' hope and aspire to play professional football soon which is the ultimate goal of the Frankfurt Football Club.

The Frankfurt Babies have thrived on challenges and grown as a team when faced with strong competition. Much of the success of this team can be attributed to first class coaching and training. Head coach Kadiri Mumin brings an enormous amount of practical playing and coaching experience to the team. As a keen observer of the game, coach Kadiri has always been able to develop each player's individual skills to enhance the team as a whole. Kadiri's Assistant coach is Francis Danso who also brings with him a great knowledge and love for the game. The achievements of the team are a reflection of these coaches.

The Football Academy

The Frankfurt Football Academy was established five years ago with the purpose of catching young football talents between 8 and 14 years of age and prepares them well, by giving them the necessary skills and football education before promoting them into the club itself which is the U-17 and Second Division team.

It is extremely difficult to get a place and scholarship at the Frankfurt Football Academy since the Academy has strict criteria for the selection of players for the academy programme. Every year over 300 players from all the ten regions in Ghana gather at Akwatia to attempt to gain admission. The exercise last for a week and 25 players are selected whose ages range from 8-12yrs. Each player should come from a school or a club and must provide a valid and certified birth certificate to qualify to take part in the programme.

They have volunteer scouts in all regions who monitor players and recommends them to the Team. The head coach supervises all activities in relation to player selection and promotion. Frankfurt FC has had a thriving youth programme for many years and its common knowledge that many players of the second division side were promoted from the junior ranks.

The football academy is simply the embodiment of their motto: discipline, dedication and hard work.
The young players at the academy are always conscious of the values and standards expected of all those who represent the club at all levels. Frankfurt FC is deeply committed to all- round development of the players in its care.

Frankfurt FC has highly qualified team of coaches who work tirelessly to give the boys the chance to progress up the fottball career ladder. The administration works to provide excellent education for the players, a legal requirement for all the players. The welfare officers to support parents, school teachers if problem arises with youngsters. The recruitment department has an army of enthusiasts constantly hunting for talents in the local area and nationally. In simple term the club provides the young player with all the support necessary for them to become the best they can be.

FUTURE PLANS
1. To build a school complex with hostel facility in Akwatia
2. To build two mini stadium for Frankfurt Academy
3. To employ their own teachers apart from relying on Ghana Education Service Teacher.
4. To have a modern and reliable transport system for the team (Buses)
5. To gain promotion to the national premier soccer league by 2008.
6. To secure full sponsorship for their activities and programmes eg international tournament.

MAMAGEMENT/ADMINISTRATION

(5) Members currently serving on the management and administration board namely:

1.AHMED BABA JAMAL - Managing Director
2.KADIRI MUMIN - Founder/Manager/Head Coach
3.KWAKU OFORI ABROKWAA – Adminstrative Secretary
4.FRANCIS DANSO - Assistant Coach
5.AHMED ABDULAI MUSAH - Welfare Officer

PLAYERS IN CAMP

1. U-10 - 25 players (10 non residential)
2. U-12 - 25 players (15 non residential)
3. U-14 - 25 players (5 non residential)
4. U-17 - 25 players (7 non residential)
5. 2nd Division - 25 players (15 non residential)

FACILITIES

1.The current training field is owned by the Club and located at Dinham Park
2. additionally they acquired the Amanfrom School field from the School Authorities
3. Access to Akwatia Community Stadium where most of their league and competitive matches are played

HOUSEING

The Frankfurt Football Academy have hired rooms from the Diamond Mining Company in the workers quarters where their players reside in the camp.

HONOURS AND ACHEVIEMENTS

YEAR

1995	Eastern Regional of Ghana Juvenile Champion (U-12)
1996	Eastern Regional of Ghana Juvenile Champion (U-14)
1998	Runner up (Eastern Regional Champion (U-17)
1999	Eastern Regional of Ghana Champion (U-14)
2000	Kwaebibirem District Champions/ Runner up Regional (U-14)
2001	Kwaebibirem District Champions(U-14 and U-17) / Runner up Regional (U-14 and U-17)
2002	District Champions(U-12) Nana Sarpong Tournament - Champion (U-12) - Champions Dana Cup U-13 and 14 , Denmark.
2003	3rd place U-14 Gothia Cup – Sweden - Champion U-15 – Norway Cup - Norway - Champion U-14 and 15 Dana Cup – Denmark
2004	National Milo Champion (U-17 - Ghana) - Desofit Cup Champion (U12 - Ghana) - 3rd Place Mylik Classic U-19 Tournament - Ghana - Champion Eastern Region 3rd Division - Promotion to 2nd division
2005	Promotion to Division 2
2006	Eastern Region U-17 Champion.