Accra Welcomes Africa’s Football Executives

Accra is gearing up for the African Football Executive Summit 2011, the first of its kind aimed at examining 21st Century Marketing, Branding, and Leadership Strategies for the Development of Football on the African Continent. Scheduled for May 26-27, 2011, participants would meet Martin Davies, Managing Director of Between The Posts Productions as a speaker, sharing his experience and expertise in modern football management and trends. Martin has been involved in African Football for twenty years. He designed and launched the BBC's sport show for Africa, Fast Track. He also produced and presented it. As an editor of the department, he also oversaw its expansion. He covered the last Ten Africa Cup of Nations and was central to the BBC World Service getting the commentary rights for the 2010 World Cup across Africa. Prior to working for the BBC World Service, Martin ran a commercial radio station in Sierra Leone. He left the BBC World Service two years ago to head up the 1GOAL, Education for All Campaign which worked with the football World, engaging the support of players including Pele of Brazil, Maldini, Zidane, Eto'o, and Stephen Appiah. In particular, he has done a lot of work with the Confederation of African Football (CAF). Martin would be speaking from the perspective of working as a public service broadcaster with reach across Africa, heading up a campaign where football was engaged for social betterment, and exploring the potential of offering a commercial radio show on the subject of African Football. In sub-Saharan Africa more than 80% of people have access to radio, and use it as their primary source of information. It has a key part to play in the story of African Football realizing its value.

New partners for the Summit are Bright Entertainment Network (BEN TV). BEN Television (Bright Entertainment Network) is a British television channel launched in 2003, aimed mainly at expatriate Africans living in Europe and North Africa. “BEN TV’s ethos is, 'safe family viewing and empowering communities'. FullCircle Sport Online has also been appointed as the official e-Marketing Partner of the African Football Executive Summit, according to Edward Kwame Abankwa who is involved in putting the summit together.