A 'BEAUTIFUL' PARTNERSHIP between football clubs in Wrexham and Lesotho was officially launched this week.

The twinning partnership, first announced earlier this year, will seek to foster international cooperation and exchange between Wrexham AFC and Kick4Life FC. 

The two clubs are aiming to work together to strengthen their community impact, with coaching exchanges, jointly promoting women's football, and co-development and delivery of a new 'Football for Good' curriculum covering health, education, social inclusion and employability.

Over the next three years, the partnership will reach 3,000 vulnerable children and young people across both communities.

The club twinning builds on a national twinning between Wales, and Lesotho in southern Africa, which was born at a meeting in Wrexham in 1984.

It was based on similarities between the two nations related to size, landscape, population, bilingualism and cultural heritage.

On Thursday (September 19), officials from both clubs gathered at the 1864 Suite at Wrexham's STok Cae Ras ground to officially launch the partnership and reveal more about the project.

Kick4Life FC, who are based in Lesotho's capital city of Maseru, were represented by the likes of Country Director Motlatsi Nkhahle and Director of Programmes Puky Ramokoatsi at the event.

(Image: Wrexham AFC) PICTURE: Wrexham AFC Executive Director, Humphrey Ker, and Kick4Life Country Director, Motlatsi Nkhahle. (Image: Wrexham AFC)

Talking about the twinning partnership, Puky said: "I came into Kick4Life way back in 2010. At first, I just wanted to play football, but this project has helped me grow into the person I am today.

"I came into a different life and I learnt so much. Women were always told that they could not play football, but Kick4Life has allowed people like me to be who they want to be."

Also present was Kick4Life co-founder Pete Fleming, who said: "The Wales and Lesotho has genuinely been a beautiful partnership down the years.

"I met Shaun Harvey at the World Cup (in Qatar 2022) and discussed the potential extension to the relationship between the two countries. Wrexham are a very community-based club like us.

"Over the last 18 months, we've been really working out what the twinning between our two clubs can look like."

The likes of Jamie Edwards (head of community) and Humphrey Ker (executive director) were there to represent Wrexham AFC at the launch.

Humphrey said: "Back in March, I was very fortunate to be able to go out to Kick4Life and see the incredible work that they do out there. We're very honoured to be partnered with them."

Jamie added: "This week has really opened up our eyes to why we're doing this. Some of the work we've done this week has really shown why we in Wrexham are going to benefit from this partnership."

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Kick4Life, formed in 2005 by British brothers Steve and Pete Fleming, was the first football club in the world exclusively dedicated to social change.

The charity works with a wide range of partners from the US Government to FIFA, as well as big names in the beautiful game including David Beckham.

Their work has also led to several players (currently 12) being able to enrol on football scholarships over in US colleges.

Humphrey added: "We'd really like to gobble up some of the talent ourselves and have them come and score a few goals at the Racecourse!"