Ghanaian football icon Abedi Ayew 'Pele' has underscored the significance of financial education in football, sharing insights from his career as both a player and an investor. 

Speaking at the closing ceremony of the three-day FIFA Financial Governance Workshop at the Marriott Hotel in Accra on Friday, January 31, 2025, Pele urged the Ghana Football Association (GFA) to disseminate key lessons from the workshop to local clubs.

The three-time African Footballer of the Year joined representatives from 10 African countries to wrap up what has been hailed as a successful workshop in Accra.

"It’s a privilege to be here, joining hands with you to close this immaculate programme. I am an investor in the game, and that singular decision to invest in football was purely based on the fact that I wanted to give back to society after my success on the pitch," he said.

"I played football at the highest level, met a lot of people who helped my cause, and spent money on my career, so having an education on finance is very important."

Pele called on the GFA to ensure that clubs benefit from the training, stating, "I will call on the Ghana Football Association to share lessons from this training with our clubs for us to understand the importance and value of best financial practices to save our football."

He further emphasised the responsibility of football associations in promoting financial literacy, adding, "As football associations and federations, we owe it a duty to educate our clubs on best financial practices. Let’s spread the word and make good use of the lessons from this workshop to promote, develop, and enhance the game."

The FIFA Financial Governance Workshop, which ran from Wednesday, January 29, to Friday, January 31, 2025, brought together participants from Ghana, Nigeria, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Cape Verde, The Gambia, and Kenya. The programme covered critical topics such as financial management, accountability, transparency, and efficient resource utilisation within football organisations.

Led by Christopher Suppiger, FIFA’s Head of Financial Governance, the workshop facilitators included Lucca Piazza, Director of Reforms Implementation; Meryem Atouk, FIFA's Finance Services Manager; Andrea Portabella, Senior Capacity Development and Education Manager; Silmara Sousa, FIFA Regional Coordinator for Africa; and Raissa Toure, FIFA Division Office Coordinator. Maxwell Caesar Kemeh, a seasoned administrator at the Competitions Department, served as the Local Liaison Officer for the workshop.

Abedi Ayew 'Pele', a former Ghana captain, enjoyed an illustrious career playing for clubs such as Lyon, Al Ain, 1860 Munich, Al Sadd, FC Zurich, Torino, and Olympique Marseille, where he won the UEFA Champions League in 1993. The former Real Tamale United star earned 73 caps and scored 19 goals for Ghana in an international career spanning 16 years.

As a highlight of the closing ceremony, the workshop participants were honoured with a customised sash and a signed jersey, presented by the legendary Abedi Ayew 'Pele'.