- info@mafarah.com
I am Mafarah Kofi Ayew, a proud son of Paga Nania in the Kasena Nankane West District of Ghana’s Upper East Region. I am the youngest of the Ayew family, born and raised in the small village of Oko, now known as Dome Pillar Two, in the Greater Accra Region. Our family house, one of only ten in the village, instilled in me the values of hard work, resilience, and community.
My education began at Dome Anglican Primary and Elementary Schools, where I undertook daily six-mile walks to and from school. These early experiences taught me discipline and perseverance. After passing my Common Entrance Examination, I enrolled at Navrongo Secondary School (NAVASCO), where I balanced academic responsibilities with supporting my family through farming, charcoal burning, and animal rearing.
Football began as a pastime with my brothers, but it soon became a central aspect of my life. I joined my school’s football teams and played with great enthusiasm and determination. Little did I know that this hobby would eventually uplift my family and change our fortunes.
After secondary school, I pursued my dream of becoming a professional footballer. I joined African Stars FC and Sekondi Eleven Wise FC. My hard work caught the attention of national coach Isaac Paha, and I was honored to join Ghana’s National U-17 team, the Black Starlets. However, my career faced a major setback when I sustained a severe ankle and knee injury during a match in Akosombo.
The injury was a turning point in my life. I underwent surgeries to repair torn ligaments and worked hard to recover. Determined to succeed, I resumed my career and played for Sabah FC in Malaysia and Nardo Calcio in Italy. Unfortunately, recurring injuries forced me to make the difficult decision to abandon my professional football dreams.
Recognizing the importance of having a backup plan, I redirected my focus to education. With my secondary school certificate, I secured a scholarship in the United States. I attended Virginia Commonwealth University and later Globe Institute of Technology, where I earned an associate degree in business management and completed courses in football administration and coaching.
While studying, I adapted to the realities of life in a foreign country. To support myself, I worked part-time in construction, automotive services, and hospitality. Through discipline and hard work, I saved enough money to start my own businesses, which allowed me to support former colleagues who had faced similar career challenges.
My experiences as a player and the struggles of other athletes inspired me to create the Mafarah Ayew Football Academy (MAFA). MAFA is a unique initiative that combines formal education with sports training to empower underprivileged but talented youth.
MAFA includes two components: a football academy and the MAFA Sporting Club, a non-governmental organization dedicated to discovering and nurturing hidden talents. The academy’s mission is to provide tools and resources for young athletes to succeed both on and off the pitch, instilling values such as discipline, teamwork, and perseverance.
At MAFA, we believe every athlete has the potential to achieve greatness. My vision is to ensure that young athletes are prepared for life beyond sports, fostering a healthy and active lifestyle while creating opportunities for personal and professional growth.
My journey has taught me that challenges are opportunities in disguise. Through education and sports, I hope to inspire the next generation to take control of their destinies and use their talents to bring positive change to their communities and the world.
