MWE Correspondent
Zanzibar President and Chairman of the Revolutionary Council, Dr Hussein Ali Mwinyi, has announced a partnership between Real Madrid Foundation and Unicorn Zanzibar Sports Limited aimed at developing young football talent, promoting discipline and strengthening moral values through international-standard training programmes.
The agreement was signed on October 13, 2026, in Madrid, Spain, during Dr Mwinyi’s official visit, marking a step towards expanding football development opportunities for young people in Zanzibar.
Under the partnership, the organisations plan to introduce specialised youth football training programmes, followed by the establishment of a permanent football academy at Zanzibar Sports Grounds.
Dr Mwinyi said the initiative would give young people access to professional coaching, structured training and opportunities to develop their sporting abilities while learning the importance of education, discipline and responsible behaviour.
He emphasised that football development requires more than natural talent, noting that success also depends on quality coaching, adequate facilities, education and a supportive environment that allows young players to reach their full potential.
The president said the Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar had continued investing in sports infrastructure, including the development of more than 30 football grounds, as part of its efforts to expand opportunities for young people and strengthen the sports sector.
He added that the government would continue investing in facilities, technical knowledge and systems that support youth development and help aspiring footballers pursue their ambitions.
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During the signing ceremony, Dr Mwinyi received a Real Madrid jersey from former Brazil international footballer Roberto Carlos, who serves as a Real Madrid ambassador, and Julio González Ronco, Director of the Real Madrid Foundation.
The presentation symbolised the growing cooperation between Zanzibar and the Spanish football institution in promoting sports development and nurturing young talent.
The Real Madrid Foundation, the social and educational arm of Spanish football club Real Madrid, operates sports-based programmes in different countries, using football and other sporting activities to support education, social inclusion and personal development among children and young people.
Through structured coaching and educational activities, such initiatives can help young players improve their technical skills while developing teamwork, respect, leadership and discipline.
For Zanzibar, the proposed academy could create a more organised pathway for identifying and nurturing promising footballers. It could also help improve coaching standards and provide young players with access to modern training methods.
The partnership comes as sports development increasingly forms part of broader efforts to create opportunities for young people through talent development, professional careers and sports-related businesses. Football academies can contribute to this process by providing structured training and connecting emerging players with wider sporting networks.
However, the long-term impact of the initiative will depend on the implementation of the training programmes, the availability of qualified coaches, sustainable funding and the academy’s ability to provide opportunities to talented young people from different communities across Zanzibar.
Following the conclusion of his official visit to Spain, Dr Mwinyi departed for Armenia to attend the PIN Leaders Summit, continuing his international engagements after an earlier visit to Doha, Qatar.
The planned football academy represents an opportunity for Zanzibar to strengthen grassroots football development while building international partnerships aimed at improving sporting skills and expanding opportunities for the next generation.
