Ghanaian coach Samuel Taylor has been selected as a finalist by Arsenal and WorldRemit for this year’s “Future Stars” youth coaching programme. 

Taylor coaches under 13, under 15 and under 17 teams at Em Sporting Club, which is located near Accra.

A passionate football player himself, he decided to start coaching to bring together children and coaches from neighbouring villages to enjoy football together.

The eight Future Stars finalists are now competing in a public vote for the chance to attend a personalised training programme with Arsenal Football Development coaches in London - sponsored by online money transfer company, WorldRemit. Two winners will be chosen - one male and one female.

Voting is open until 11th November on www.futurestars.worldremit.com!

About Future Stars

The Future Stars programme was developed by WorldRemit and Arsenal to celebrate the positive impact that grassroots youth football coaches have on their communities, helping the children they train to develop life skills both on and off the pitch.

Now in its second edition, the Future Stars programme received over 1,400 online applications this year from across Africa and the Americas.

From these entries, a panel of judges selected 20 semi-finalists to receive Arsenal shirts for their youth team as recognition of their hard work within their communities.

The judging panel then narrowed these 20 semi-finalists down to eight finalist coaches – four male and four female.

Male Future Stars finalists

Bakit Isaac Agogo from Gulu, Uganda Feisal Abdi Hassan from Nairobi, Kenya Luis Alejandro Castañeda Vargas from Bogotá, Colombia Samuel Taylor from Accra, Ghana

Female Future Stars finalists

Beldine Lilian Achieng Odemba from Nairobi, Kenya Chinasa Ukandu from Lagos State, Nigeria Joan Nabisenke from Kampala, Uganda Vivian Johana Pirateque Garzón from Bogotá, Colombia

Two winners - one male and one female - will be chosen by a public vote to fly to London for a personalised training programme with Arsenal Football Development coaches.

 “Our eight finalists’ stories are testament to the transformative impact that football can have on young people. We are delighted to celebrate their success and wish them all the best in the public vote!”

Simon McManus, Head Coach at Arsenal Football Development, said: “Through our community initiatives in London and abroad, we work hard to promote greater diversity in football and positively impact the lives of young people through sport.

“When developing this year’s Future Stars programme with WorldRemit, it was important for us to highlight the benefits of encouraging more women into the sport, both as players and as coaches. The eight finalists we have chosen all stood out to us due to their passion and commitment to using football to bring young people from all walks of life together.”

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