When Tema United FC sealed the Greater Accra Division Two Zone 1 championship last weekend, many pointed to the side’s collective discipline, tactical flexibility and fervent supporters. Yet there is one name that echoes loudest in the Harbour Boys’ fairy-tale season—Michael Noumon.
Michael’s statistics read like a gamer’s cheat code: 26 matches, 26 goals, 11 assists. In other words, the 18-year-old forward has had a direct hand in 37 of the club’s 75 league goals, a staggering 45 percent contribution. Whether rifling in from 20 yards, ghosting between centre-backs for a tap-in or unselfishly squaring for a team-mate, Numon has become the metronome of Tema United’s attack.
“Michael’s instinct is frightening,” head coach Emmanuel Aidoo says. “Give him half a yard and the ball’s in the net. Off the pitch he’s humble, on it he’s ruthless.”
Balancing Books and Boots
What makes the feat more remarkable is that Michael is not a full-time professional. On weekday mornings you’ll find him on the campus of Methodist University Ghana, poring over ledgers and financial ratios. The level-300 Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration (Accounting option) student dashes from training in the morning straight to lectures in the afternoon.
“It’s tight,” he admits with a grin. “Training ends at 10am, I grab a quick breakfast on the trotro, and I’m in the class by 12:00 noon. My lecturers have been supportive, and my team-mates know when exam season comes, I revise on the bus to away games.”
Born and raised in Ashaiman, Michael learned the game on the rough, sandy pitches by the port. He joined Tema United’s juvenile ranks at 15, rising through the U-17s and U-19s before making his senior debut last season. Twelve goals then hinted at potential; this season’s explosion confirmed it.
Team-mate Eric Adjei explains the transformation: “He spent the off-season in the gym, built muscle, worked on weak-foot finishing. Now he can score with either foot, head, volley—you name it.”
Standing 1.78 m tall with a low centre of gravity, Noumon combines acceleration with intelligent movement. He often drifts wide to drag defenders, opening lanes for overlapping wingers. His accounting brain shows in his decision-making—rarely forcing shots when a pass yields a higher-percentage chance.
With the GA RFA Promotional Middle League looming in June, scouts from Division One and even Premier League clubs have circled. Noumon, however, strikes a measured tone.
“My priority is promotion with Tema United and graduating next year. Football careers are short—an accounting degree gives me security and maybe one day a role in club management.”
In a region where many promising footballers drop out of school early, Noumon’s dual-track success resonates.
Whether crunching numbers in the classroom or defenders on the pitch, Michael Noumon embodies balance, ambition and brilliance. Should Tema United reach Division One, their red-hot striker will be front and centre—still scoring for fun, still studying for finals, and still inspiring the next generation of scholar-athletes.