Founded in 2015, Monrovia Football Academy is the first school in Liberia to combine formal education with football development.

Overview

The academy provides Liberian boys and girls with academic classes, football training, and life skills lessons to break down gender barriers, improve academic performance and produce well-rounded leaders. In the 2016–17 school year, the academy has 50 students (30 boys and 20 girls) from ages 8–12 in the 3rd, 4th, and 5th grades. Students are at the academy from 9:00am–6:00pm, Monday-Friday, with football training in the morning, lunch at noon, and academic classes in the afternoon.

Core Programs

Education

The academy uses football – the most popular sport in Liberia – as an incentive to encourage student-athletes to attend school and improve academic performance.

Football

The academy delivers professional coaching and a comprehensive football curriculum that disrupts bad habits, introduces fundamental techniques, and encourages student-athletes to "think about the game" at a high level.

Gender Equality

The academy uses education and football to break down gender barriers. By studying and training with the boys – and often outperforming them both in the classroom and on the pitch – the academy's girls have a sense of empowerment they themselves vocalize.

Notable Supporters

Jill Ellis

Monrovia Football Academy hosted

Jill Ellis Jillian Anne Ellis (born 6 September 1966) is an English-American soccer coach and executive who is currently the president of San Diego Wave FC. Ellis coached the United States women's national soccer team from 2014 to October 2019 and won two ...

- the U.S. Women's National Soccer Team Coach and 2015 FIFA Coach of the Year - on November 29-December 2, 2016. Ellis was accompanied by the U.S. Women's National Soccer Team goalkeeper

Ashlyn Harris Ashlyn Michelle Harris (born October 19, 1985) is a former American soccer player for Gotham FC of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL), the highest division of women's professional soccer in the United States, and the United States women' ...

. Ellis and Harris visited as Sport Envoys sponsored by U.S. Embassy Monrovia, U.S. Soccer, and Sports United, which is the Department of State's division devoted to sports diplomacy. Ellis is an official Monrovia Football Academy Ambassador.

Ashlyn Harris

is an American soccer player and FIFA Women's World Cup champion who is currently a goalkeeper for the United States women's national soccer team and Orlando Pride in the National Women's Soccer League. Harris accompanied her U.S. national team coach, Jill Ellis, to Liberia from November 29-December 2, 2016.

References

External links

Official Website

International Business Times

BBC World Service
{{DEFAULTSORT:Monrovia Football Academy Football clubs in Liberia Sport in Monrovia Education in Liberia Youth organizations based in Liberia Educational organizations based in Liberia