With ambitions to connect young talents with professional clubs and international scouts, Génie 2000 football academy hopes to become a reference point for football development in Côte d’Ivoire and beyond.

Oliver Ochieng, Marabou News Agency

Football is more than just a game in Côte d’Ivoire. For many young people, football represents hope, ambition and a chance to build a better future, with the likes of Manchester United’s Amad Diallo and Real Madrid’s Yan Diomande serving as reference points for budding footballers.

In Abidjan, the Génie 2000 Football Academy is working to turn that ambition into reality by combining professional football training with discipline and education.

Founded in February 2026 by former Ivorian footballer Seria Ryan Joseph, Génie 2000 aims to nurture the next generation of football talent. Drawing on his experience in Morocco, where he developed his coaching skills, Joseph said he hopes to introduce a structured approach to training and help young players reach professional levels.

The academy welcomes boys aged 15 to 19, focusing not only on technical ability and tactical awareness, but also on discipline and academic achievement.

“Génie 2000 is a state of mind because we already have a strong, positive mentality here. The community has inspired us to adopt the name Génie 2000 because our goal is to bring out football geniuses and nurture exceptional talent in the sport,” Joseph said in French.

“My experience in Morocco was really good because I met legends such as Mustapha Aji, Youssef Aji and Benazia. Through that experience, I became a professional footballer in Morocco. It also gave me the opportunity to train as a coach. With all the knowledge I had acquired, I asked myself: ‘Why not come to Côte d’Ivoire and establish an academy, an association and a club called Génie 2000 Football Club?’”

His greatest wish, he said, is to see players compete in the Ivorian league and gain international recognition, with players such as Didier Drogba and other prominent football figures from the West African country having set the pace.

“That is why I am focused on providing young people with quality training, equipping them with knowledge, developing their football skills and educating them. I also encourage them to go to school because, without education, there is no football. Football in Côte d’Ivoire presents a great opportunity because we are one of Africa’s major footballing nations. We have already won the Africa Cup of Nations three times, and we have great legends here in Côte d’Ivoire who are passing on their knowledge and experience.”

15-year-old Adriano Asunkuran is one of the players at the academy. He wants to become the best footballer in Africa, following in the footsteps of Ivorian greats Didier Drogba and Yaya Toure. He said his grandfather’s dream of becoming a professional footballer was cut short by a knee injury.

“My grandfather had a problem in his knee and he tells me that I have the power to do it – to become a professional footballer. And I trust him, and I want to become a professional footballer in Africa or the whole world.”

With ambitions to connect young talents with professional clubs and international scouts, Génie 2000 hopes to become a reference point for football development in Côte d’Ivoire and beyond.

For the young players, the journey starts on the training ground, but the dream reaches far beyond it: to become professionals and, one day, wear the orange, white and green of the Ivorian national team.

Marabou News Agency

Editor: George Mutero

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SC Villa have a golden opportunity to climb to the summit of the table if they secure victory in their match day six fixture.

The 17-time champions, SC Villa, make a short trip to the Kira Police Arena in Kamwokya to battle Police FC at 4:00 PM. Villa, who sit on 11 points, can scale the top of the log and move to 14 points with a maximum points haul.

Zeljko Kovacevic’s men will be looking to bounce back from a frustrating 1-1 draw against Kataka FC in their last outing. The Blues are expected to welcome back key international figures David Lukwago, Frank Ssebuufu, and Geoffrey Lubangakene to the starting lineup after they were rested on the bench last week.

However, 2005 champions Police FC will be no pushovers. Currently 9th on the log with 7 points, the Cops are desperate to redeem themselves following a heavy 3-0 defeat to Entebbe UPPC.

Police will also draw confidence from last season’s corresponding fixture, where they walked away with a controversial 1-0 victory after Villa’s Frank Ssebuufu had a goal dubiously disallowed.

Matia Lule’s men will look to Bedia Ikamba and Samuel Ssekamatte for goals but miss left back Matovu who was sent off against Entebbe UPPC.

Elsewhere, NEC, joint-second with Villa travel to Kamwenge to face hosts Kigezi Home Boyz.

Thursday fixtures

The matchday six action continues on Thursday, October 14, with three exciting fixtures on the cards:

• Express FC vs UPDF FC – Hamz Stadium, Nakivubo (4:00 PM)
• Kataka FC vs Vipers SC – BCS Sports Complex (4:00 PM)
• URA FC vs Entebbe UPPC – Hamz Stadium, Nakivubo (7:00 PM)

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Lugazi head coach Abbey Kikomeko has praised his players for their disciplined performance after holding BUL to a goalless draw in the Uganda Premier League.

Lugazi went into the encounter looking to bounce back from their defeat to Maroons but had to settle for a point against an unbeaten BUL side.

Kikomeko acknowledged the quality of their opponents, noting that his team had prepared well for the challenge.

“We came into this game after losing to Maroons, so we came knowing BUL were unbeaten and were a stronger side. They have a good squad with good players,” Kikomeko said.

“I would like to thank the boys for the good work done. They played under instructions, and sincerely, we got some clear-cut chances, but we shall move on with the point earned.”

The draw offers Lugazi an opportunity to build on their performance as they seek to improve their results in the ongoing campaign.

Kikomeko has already turned his attention to their next assignment against Express, a fixture he expects to be another stern test given the experience within the opposition ranks.

“We now switch our attention to Express. It will be a tough game against a big side with experienced players, but we shall keep handling game per game,” he added.

Lugazi will look to carry the discipline shown against BUL into the Express encounter as they seek a positive result.

Lugazi lie 11th on the league log with seven points in six games played thus far.

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