Vodafone Firsts participant ‘Anokye Stars’ wins tournament in UK

●     Dream to play football in the UK comes true for Anokye Stars under-15s team

●     Players’ families and friends share moment of victory thanks to video stream in Ghana

●     Film on Firsts.com captures the moment the eight boys become champions

 Anokye Stars, a local club based in Old Suame in Kumasi, has won under-15 international football tournament in United Kingdom, thanks to Vodafone Firsts.

The club mentored by former Leeds United and Ghanaian football legend Tony Yeboah, knock-out victories against six British teams – the matches were streamed to a pop-up cinema in Old Suame for friends and family members, via a high-speed internet connection by Vodafone Ghana. 

As hundreds gathered to watch the Anokye Stars play, their coach, friends and families’ shouts of pride were shared with the players, aged 12 to 15, from more than 5,000 kilometres away.

Despite beating their counterparts to a final 4-0 score in the grass roots London tournament, they also won the affection of their rivals, who joined them in a victory dance around the pitch.

The trip to the UK was particularly special for Richard Oppong, 14, who dreams of one day playing for British club Tottenham Hotspur.  “We have been training so hard for this,” said 14-year-old aspiring professional footballer Bempah Owusu, nicknamed ‘Beckham’.

“This tournament was life-changing for the team.  They left here as boys and they have returned as men, with a trophy that has made the whole community proud.” the boys’ coach, Sani Pollux said.

The Anokye Star’s first international football tournament was made possible by the Vodafone Firsts programme, which enables people to do remarkable things for the first time.

Vodafone is also asking people what they would like to do for the first time through its ‘Pitch Your First’ competition on Firsts.com.

The Anokye Stars experienced many life-changing moments on their adventures in England, travelling by plane for the first time and celebrating their victory on an open-top bus tour of London.

A short documentary film will be shared on Vodafone’s social media channels celebrating Firsts. To find out more about Vodafone Firsts and Pitch Your First, visit www.firsts.com.