Plymouth Parkway Football Club has partnered with MEC Study Group to establish a football academy in Kuwait, offering young players across the country a pathway to play football in England. The academy was officially launched at a press conference held on October 28 at the Hilton Garden Inn Hotel in Kuwait City.
The initiative is led by Muizz Ahmed Mirza, a 28-year-old Pakistani entrepreneur born and raised in Kuwait, who serves as chairman and majority owner of Plymouth Parkway FC and is the founder of MEC Study Group. The launch marked the first visit to Kuwait for three senior club officials: Co-Chairman Mark Russell, Vice Chairman Gez Baggott, and Head of Youth and Disability Lee Peacock.
Initially based at Kuwait English School, the academy is open to players of all nationalities residing in Kuwait between the ages of three and nineteen. Participants will receive regular coaching in Kuwait and have opportunities to travel to Plymouth every six months or annually to train and compete with Plymouth Parkway FC. The program includes both football development and educational support, with MEC Study Group assisting families in balancing academic planning with football training schedules.
Mirza emphasized the motivation behind the academy, citing his desire to provide opportunities for talented young footballers in Kuwait who rarely gain exposure beyond local teams. “Kuwait has given me so much, and this academy is one way I can give something back. We want every young player who joins us to get proper coaching and a real connection to a club in England,” he said.
Co-Chairman Mark Russell described the partnership as "an exciting new chapter" for Plymouth Parkway, highlighting the ambition to create genuine opportunities for youth players throughout Kuwait and the wider Middle East to experience English football, enhance their skills, and benefit from the club's coaching philosophy. He also noted the goal of facilitating talented players to visit Plymouth to continue their education alongside football development.
The academy’s coaching will be overseen by Lee Peacock, a former Scotland U18 and U21 international with a 20-year professional career including stints at Manchester City, Bristol City, Sheffield Wednesday, and Swindon Town. Peacock will set coaching standards and mentor local coaches to foster the best environment for player development.
Vice Chairman Gez Baggott expressed pride in the club’s progress since 1993 and viewed the partnership as a significant opportunity to build relationships with academies and organizations across the Middle East.
Plymouth Parkway, established in 1988, competes in the Southern League Premier Division South, the seventh tier of English football, and plays its home matches at Bolitho Park. The club is preparing for its debut appearance in the first round proper of the Emirates FA Cup, scheduled for the weekend of November 7 against Berkhamsted at Bolitho Park, a match to be broadcast in Kuwait.
MEC Study Group, founded by Mirza in 2017, operates from offices in Kuwait and Jeddah and has supported more than 3,000 students in pursuing higher education abroad. The company provides free guidance throughout the application process, including scholarship advisement and pre-departure preparation.
Future plans for the academy include expansion to additional sites within Kuwait, followed by rollouts across the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, Pakistan, and India. Mirza expressed hope that the program would nurture players who will progress abroad, advance in their education, and bring pride to Kuwait.