A new community football initiative across Africa, /PHOTO; Manchester City FC
Manchester City and Midea have launched a new community football initiative across Africa, designed to use the sport as a tool to improve the health and well-being of young people.
The five projects are being rolled out in Lagos (Nigeria), Luanda (Angola), Nairobi (Kenya), Johannesburg (South Africa), and Rabat (Morocco).
Each programme will combine football-based education with practical resources to support healthier, more connected communities.
Tom Pitchon, Director of Corporate Social Responsibility at City Football Group, said the programmes are intended to combine sport with resources that improve everyday life:
“Through this partnership, we are using football and Midea products to uplift the lives of young people around the world. The community football projects we are supporting provide young people in cities across the globe with a home away from home, while promoting health, life skills, confidence, new friendships, and leadership opportunities.”
Focus on community spaces
As part of the initiative, Midea is donating resources and home appliances to community centres and football hubs.
The company says the goal is to transform these spaces into safe and inclusive environments where young people can gather, learn, and take part in sport.
The enhanced facilities will serve as meeting points for training sessions, health activities, and leadership development.
Manchester City’s charity arm, City in the Community, will provide additional support by working with local Young Leaders.
These leaders will be trained by City coaches and then return to their communities to run programmes that use football to promote health, teamwork, and confidence.
Building on earlier projects
The African launch follows similar efforts in other parts of the world.
Last season, youth-led projects in São Paulo, Brazil, and Bandung, Indonesia, benefited from more than 60 donated Midea appliances, including humidifiers and air conditioning units.
Those appliances were used to make community football hubs more comfortable and practical for daily activities.
The projects also included sessions on leadership, life skills, and education.
Manchester City and Midea previously partnered on projects in New York as well, showing a pattern of expanding the initiative to different regions over the past few years.
Local partners involved
To ensure the African programmes are rooted in local needs, the projects will be managed in partnership with community-based organisations. These include:
- Lead Morocco in Rabat
- FAME Foundation in Lagos
- Tackle Africa in Nairobi
- Tackle Africa and Diski Nine9 in Johannesburg
- Special Olympics in Luanda
These partners will oversee the day-to-day running of the projects, train local staff, and provide continuity once the initial rollouts are complete.
From Midea’s perspective, the initiative fits into its approach to corporate responsibility in Africa. Bright Yao, Regional Sales Director at Midea Africa, explained:
“ By bringing our products to grassroots communities and partnering with local organisations, we’re not just providing appliances, we’re helping to create safe, inspiring spaces where young people can thrive. These are the kinds of real-life impacts that matter to us and to the future of the communities that we serve.”
A wider network of young leaders
One of the key features of the initiative is the training of local Young Leaders.
These young people will become part of a global network established through Manchester City’s community programmes, linking Africa with counterparts in South America, Asia, and North America.
The training is designed to ensure that football sessions also teach life skills such as communication, leadership, and problem-solving.
Looking ahead
For Manchester City and Midea, the African projects represent the latest stage in an ongoing collaboration.
By combining community sport with practical support, the partners say they want to create long-term benefits for young people in underserved areas.
For the participating communities, the initiative is expected to offer more than access to football.
It aims to provide young people with safer spaces, stronger social connections, and the chance to develop skills that go beyond the pitch.
