Feyenoord Academy was a Ghanaian football club and the biggest football academy in Ghana based in Goma Fetteh, and was founded by Feyenoord from Rotterdam. They played in the Ghanaian Premier League.
In August 2014 the club was merged with Red Bull Academy to form the West African Football Academy S.C..
Feyenoord's chairman Jorien van den Herik was given permission for the opening of Feyenoord's own football academy in the Ghanaian settlement of Fetteh, just outside the capital Accra.[1] The go-ahead was given by the Chief of Fetteh in 1998. At the academy, young talented African footballers can work on their football skills. In addition to helping their football potential the students are provided with formal education which is funded by Feyenoord.[1] Former Feyenoord player Mohammed Abubakari is the first player that graduated from the academy and achieved a professional contract at Feyenoord.[2][3] Prior to Abubakari's move, Jordan Opoku spent some time at Excelsior and Royal Antwerp FC before returning to Ghana.[4][5]
In the buildup to the 2008–09 season, right-back Harrison Afful is on trial with Feyenoord.
The idea for Feyenoord's own football academy was born in Abidjan. Jorien van den Herik was there to sign the then still unknown Bonaventure Kalou and got into contact with the education institute at Kalou's club.[1] That same year the head of the youth education flew to Africa to take stock in the project and returned with a praising report. In January 1998 the ball got rolling: Feyenoord would start its own Football School in Africa.[1]
In August 2014, Feyenoord Academy was reorganised and renamed the West African Football Academy.[6] In the same year, the club took over the old Red Bull Academy near Sogakope and moved from their old location in Gomoa Fetteh to this new location in the Volta Region.[7][6]
The following clubs were affiliated with Feyenoord Gomoa Fetteh:
as of 11 June 2014[9]Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
John Kila
