In a bid to equip underprivileged but highly talented young players with the resources needed to pursue professional careers, Footy Moments with Nabila Foundation has launched #LaceUpADream, a grassroots football initiative.

The programme, supported by the Africa Bitcoin Community Hub and implemented in strategic partnership with Afa Sports, has produced its first 200 pairs of high-quality football boots designed specifically for grassroots players across African communities.

According to the Foundation, the initiative goes beyond sports development by intentionally integrating Bitcoin education and adoption awareness into its framework. The partnership with the Africa Bitcoin Community Hub, it said, is meant to promote financial inclusion and digital sovereignty across the continent.

As part of this approach, the football boots visibly feature the Bitcoin logo, which the Foundation described as a symbol of empowerment and innovation for young African players.

“The visible Bitcoin logo on the boots is deliberate. It represents opportunity, financial freedom, and education. Football is a powerful cultural connector in Africa, and we are using that platform to spark curiosity and conversations around Bitcoin adoption on the continent,” the foundation stated

The collaboration with Afa Sports, an African-owned brand, was also described as a conscious effort to retain value within the continent. The Foundation noted that sustainable wealth creation in Africa requires strengthening local enterprises rather than exporting resources and capital to Western markets.

“Supporting African grassroots football must also mean supporting African brands. We cannot build wealth by taking our resources to the West. This partnership is about keeping value within Africa and proving that excellence can be built here,” it said.

The Foundation added that the boots produced under the #LaceUpADream initiative meet international performance and durability standards, comparable to globally recognised brands, while being designed with African playing conditions and environments in mind.