In a novel and groundbreaking move, Ghana Women’s Premier League side, Ridge City Football Club (RCFC) have signed a partnership agreement with English Women Premier League side, Everton FC, under the latter’s International Academy Affiliate Programme (EIAAP).
Under this partnership, Everton will support RCFC with development and technical support on an exchange programme.
This will include a technical team visiting Ridge City to lay the foundation of the Everton Academy curriculum as well as implement methods used to develop both player and coaching skills at the premiership side.
That would provide Ridge City Women with further knowledge and help grow their club to achieve its vision and objectives.
The deal makes Ridge City the first women’s club in Ghana and from Africa, to join the EIAAP programme, whose objective is to expand the knowledge and expertise of player development processes to affiliated clubs across the world.
Everton’s EIAAP launched in 2020, is available to grassroots teams, professional sides, youth academies, girls and women’s teams, as well as colleges and universities.
The programme has affiliates in the US, Canada, South America, Australia and Ireland.
After the finalisation of the partnership, Everton made the announcement
on Twitter.
“We are delighted to welcome Ridge City as an inaugural women’s partner club to Everton’s International Academy Affiliate programme.”
Everton’s International Technical Manager, Paddy Byrne, said the English club were excited to bring Ridge City FC on board as their latest partner.
“I’m excited to work with Cleopatra and her team and help them to build on the solid foundations laid in only four years of existence.
“We feel there is plenty of opportunity for them to grow – and by sharing our values and coaching methods we will build on the affiliate programme in a new territory.
“I am sure this will prove a fruitful partnership for both clubs, and we can’t wait to get started,” Mr Bryne said.
The Chief Executive Officer of Ridge City FC, Cleopatra Nsiah Nketiah described the Everton partnership as significant and groundbreaking, not only for her side but for women’s football in general.
“This is a very significant and groundbreaking deal not for only Ridge City FC, but also for women’s football in Ghana. Hopefully, we will be able to bring some attention to the women’s premier league through the collaboration.
“Our relationship with Everton will help us on that pathway and let our people know that in Ghana you can play football and that there can be a career path, perhaps even having a chance to travel to the UK and trial there.
“It is really an exciting piece of news. We have been looking for an opportunity like this for a long time and the most important thing for us is that women in Ghana are serious about playing football,” she said.
Ms Nsiah Nketia also described the resources Everton would provide under the partnership as a huge pull that would inure to the benefit of all aspects of the game for Ridge City and invariably impact on the women’s game locally.
“The environment and resources Everton can provide is a huge pull and the opportunity to have online coaching programmes to follow, and even potential visits by their coaches, is another real positive that we can tap into, to help our women feel that they are part of something bigger,” she emphasized.
Ridge City FC
Formed in 2018, Ridge City FC earned their promotion to the WPL for the 2022-2023 season after finishing second in the southern zone of the Zonal Championships held in Ayinase in August 2022.
The club, currently have 30 women registered players, plus a burgeoning academy, aim to facilitate the development and promotion of women’s football in Ghana.
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