How Next Gen Sparked Akida’s Passion for a Career in Sport
Akida from Kosovo was part of the 2024 Next Gen Man City programme, an experience that played an important role in shaping her future ambitions within the sports industry. She was initially attracted to the programme because it offered the chance to gain genuine insight into how the industry operates, while also providing meaningful exposure to professionals working across different areas of sport.
Throughout the programme, Akida particularly enjoyed learning what happens behind the scenes in sports organisations and understanding how they function on a day-to-day basis. She valued the opportunity to speak directly with Manchester City professionals and industry experts, hearing first-hand about their career journeys, experiences, and advice for young people looking to enter the sector.
One experience that stayed with her most was gaining a realistic understanding of how sports organisations work in practice, rather than simply learning about them in theory. Seeing the industry up close helped make a career in sport feel both realistic and achievable.
The experience inspired Akida to pursue a future in sports management, and she is now studying International Sports Management at The Hague University of Applied Sciences.
Looking back on the programme, Akida says she would strongly recommend Next Gen to others. She describes it as inspiring, practical, and highly valuable for anyone interested in the sports industry, encouraging future participants to fully embrace the opportunity and make the most of every experience offered through the programme.
