Our History
Football Hero's story began in 2012, when Swedish entrepreneur Rickard Fritjofsson started collecting football boots with a simple goal: to give unused football equipment a new purpose and make the game more accessible to young people in Africa.
With “Tillsammans gör vi skillnad” — Swedish for “Together, we make a difference” — at the heart of the initiative, Rickard brought together football clubs, organisations, businesses and individuals to support the project.
The first shipment of donated equipment went to Mozambique, followed by further efforts in The Gambia. Over time, thousands of football boots and more than 300 footballs were delivered to young players who otherwise might not have had access to proper equipment.
During this journey, Rickard was approached with the idea of establishing a football academy in The Gambia. What began as a charity initiative gradually evolved into something bigger — an opportunity to create a community where young footballers could train, develop and grow, both on and off the pitch.
Today, we are building on that foundation with renewed ambitions, new partnerships and a long-term vision to develop the next generation of footballers in The Gambia.
Player Registration
Build relationships with clubs, scouts and agents to create opportunities for our players, from trials to the next step in their careers.
Forth Milestone
Work towards registering all our players in FIFA Connect, building a more organised club with properly documented player records.
Player Visibility
Introduce video analysis tools and scouting databases to showcase our players, support their development and help talent get noticed.
Club Visibility
Grow the club’s visibility through social media, sponsors and partners, attracting support to help us build for the future.
Charity & Reuse
Keep charity at our foundation by collecting and reusing football boots and equipment, giving more young people the chance to play.
Our Vision
Our ambition is to professionalise Football Hero, strengthen the club and create more opportunities for our players. Five priorities guide our next steps.