Abedi Ayew 'Pele' Stresses the Importance of Financial Education at FIFA Workshop in Accra

Ghanaian football legend Abedi Ayew ‘Pele’ has highlighted the critical importance of financial education in the football industry, sharing insights from his career as both a player and an investor. Pele’s remarks came at the closing ceremony of the FIFA Financial Governance Workshop held in Accra at the Marriott Hotel on Friday, January 31, 2025.

The three-time African Footballer of the Year stressed that financial literacy plays a key role in ensuring long-term success for players, coaches, and football organizations. Reflecting on his experiences both on and off the pitch, he urged the Ghana Football Association (GFA) to disseminate the knowledge gained from the workshop to local clubs in order to promote better financial practices within the Ghanaian football community.

“It’s a great privilege for me to be here with you all today, wrapping up this excellent program,” Pele said during his speech at the closing ceremony. “I am an investor in football, and the decision to invest in the game was motivated by my desire to give back to society following my success as a player.” He went on to explain that his investment decisions were based on the understanding that financial education is an essential component for players and football organizations to manage their wealth and resources wisely.

Pele acknowledged that his own experience in football, which involved meeting many influential people and spending substantial amounts of money to further his career, reinforced the need for players to understand the principles of financial management. “I played football at the highest level, and I made several investments in my career,” he noted. “So, having an education in finance is crucial for all players and football professionals. It’s not just about talent on the field; it’s also about making the right decisions off the field.”

One of Pele’s key messages was for the GFA to ensure that the financial lessons learned at the workshop are shared with local clubs and players. He stated, “I encourage the Ghana Football Association to take these lessons from this workshop and share them with our clubs. We must all understand the importance of adopting good financial practices to secure the future of our football.”

The former footballer also emphasized the role of football associations in promoting financial literacy among their members. “Football associations and federations have a responsibility to educate clubs on sound financial management,” he said. “Let’s use the knowledge we’ve gained from this workshop to improve our clubs and the game as a whole.”

The FIFA Financial Governance Workshop, which took place from January 29 to January 31, 2025, saw the participation of representatives from Ghana, Nigeria, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Cape Verde, The Gambia, and Kenya. During the three days, participants were trained on important topics such as financial management, transparency, accountability, and the effective use of resources within football organizations.

FIFA’s Head of Financial Governance, Christopher Suppiger, led the workshop alongside other facilitators, including Lucca Piazza, Director of Reforms Implementation; Meryem Atouk, FIFA’s Finance Services Manager; Andrea Portabella, Senior Capacity Development and Education Manager; Silmara Sousa, FIFA Regional Coordinator for Africa; and Raissa Toure, FIFA Division Office Coordinator. Maxwell Caesar Kemeh, a seasoned administrator at the Competitions Department, served as the Local Liaison Officer for the event.

Abedi Ayew ‘Pele’ is widely regarded as one of Ghana’s most accomplished footballers. Throughout his illustrious career, he played for top clubs such as Lyon, Al Ain, 1860 Munich, Al Sadd, FC Zurich, Torino, and Olympique Marseille, where he notably won the UEFA Champions League in 1993. On the international stage, Pele earned 73 caps for the Ghana national team and scored 19 goals, establishing himself as a key figure in Ghanaian football for over 16 years.

During the closing ceremony of the workshop, Pele personally presented customized sashes and signed jerseys to all participants as a gesture of appreciation for their involvement. The FIFA Financial Governance Workshop, which focused on equipping African football administrators and stakeholders with vital financial skills, has been hailed as a success, with Pele’s participation lending further credibility to the event. As football associations across Africa continue to grow and evolve, Pele’s call for better financial management and education will undoubtedly help shape the future of the sport on the continent.