- Manchester City and Midea have today announced the launch of five new community football projects across Africa in Lagos (Nigeria), Luanda (Angola), Nairobi (Kenya), Johannesburg (South Africa) and Rabat (Morocco)
- The joint initiative will combine the power of football and Midea appliances to create safe, cool, and comfortable spaces for young community football leaders to play, learn and connect on and off the field
- The projects will be delivered in collaboration with local charity partners and Manchester City’s charity, City in the Community (CITC), to train Young Leaders in football, leadership, and social impact
Manchester City and global home appliances brand Midea have today announced the launch of five new community football projects across Africa.
Building on a shared commitment to community development and youth empowerment, the new projects in Nigeria, Angola, South Africa, Kenya, and Morocco aim to foster healthier, happier, and more connected communities.
As part of the initiative, Midea’s donation of resources and home appliances will transform community centres and football hubs into comfortable, safe, and inclusive environments. These enhanced spaces will serve as vital meeting points where young people can come together to engage in football-based education, develop leadership skills, and access resources that support their physical and mental well-being.
This launch marks the latest development in the global community initiatives created through Midea and Manchester City’s partnership, building on prior projects in New York, São Paulo, and Bandung.
Last season, youth-led community football projects in São Paulo, Brazil, and Bandung, Indonesia benefited from more than 60 donated Midea appliances, including humidifiers and air conditioning units, helping young people feel at home and access education in community football, leadership, and life skills.
The projects, which are all run by inspiring local Young Leaders, will have access to a mix of grant funding and Midea product donations, in addition to training in youth leadership, social impact and community football from City in the Community coaches from Manchester.
The trainees will join a global network of Young Leaders trained by City in the Community coaches to use football as a tool to address social challenges and promote healthier lives in their communities.
The projects will be overseen and quality assured by the following local charity partners: LEAD Morocco (Rabat), FAME Foundation (Lagos), Tackle Africa (Nairobi) Tackle Africa and Diski Nine9 (Johannesburg), and Special Olympics (Luanda), ensuring deep local engagement and sustainable impact. Collectively they will support children and young people who will benefit from the Midea appliances, football sessions, leadership workshops, and community events to empower healthier lives through football.
Tom Pitchon, Director of Corporate Social Responsibility at City Football Group, said: “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 with 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.”
Bright Yao, Regional Sales Director at Midea Africa, said: “At Midea, we value social responsibility, and we believe in making technology accessible with purpose – and this initiative does exactly that.
“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.”
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