Forsports Foundation Partners with Xcel Basketball Academy to Empower Sunyani Youth

Forsports Foundation has deepened its commitment to youth development in Sunyani through a new partnership with Xcel Basketball Academy, a fast-growing grassroots initiative using basketball to inspire discipline, confidence and positive behaviour among underserved young people. The collaboration forms part of the Foundation’s broader strategy to reach more youth across the Bono Region through structured sports programmes, life skills training and community engagement.

The partnership was announced during a brief presentation ceremony, where Forsports Foundation donated brand new Macron-branded kits to the Academy. The gesture was made possible through the Foundation’s long-standing global relationship with Macron, whose continued support strengthens sport-for-development initiatives across Ghana.

Addressing players, coaches and community members, Christopher Forsythe, Founder of Forsports Foundation, highlighted the significance of the collaboration. He said the Foundation’s mission has always been to use sport as a tool for social change, and expanding into basketball represented an important new frontier. He noted that many young people in Sunyani face rising social pressures and lack safe environments for recreation, mentorship and personal growth. He explained that the Foundation sees basketball as a powerful channel to promote resilience, teamwork and leadership, and the partnership with Xcel Basketball Academy will give young people a structured pathway to develop these qualities.

In his remarks, he encouraged the players to make the most of the opportunity and to see themselves as future ambassadors of excellence for Sunyani. He expressed appreciation to Macron for their unwavering commitment to providing high quality sports gear for vulnerable communities, acknowledging that their contributions have strengthened initiatives such as Girls4Goals and several community outreach programmes.

Head Coach of Xcel Basketball Academy, Anthony Nii Adotey Adotei, welcomed the partnership with enthusiasm. He explained that the Academy was established to give children in the Sunyani area an alternative to negative social influences by providing structured training, mentorship and constant support. He said the new kits will boost the confidence of the young athletes and motivate them to train with renewed purpose.

Coach Anthony added that working with Forsports Foundation will expand opportunities for the Academy, especially in life skills education and community outreach. He observed that the Foundation’s experience in leading transformative sports programmes, combined with the Academy’s technical focus on basketball, creates a strong platform for long-term impact.

The collaboration is expected to deepen over the coming year, with plans to roll out community basketball clinics, youth development sessions and mentorship initiatives supported by Forsports Foundation’s international and local partners. The Foundation believes that building structured community spaces for sports plays a crucial role in reducing anti-social behaviour, improving confidence among young people and shaping well-rounded, responsible citizens.

The partnership marks another step in the Foundation’s journey to use sport as an engine for development, reinforcing its commitment to creating lasting opportunities for young people in the Bono Region and beyond.