to achieving excellence in football, academic work and leadership: self-discipline, passion, initiative, and integrity, social intelligence, giving back and winning. These are central to everything which takes place at RtD, be it in football, the classroom or any aspect of everyday life. The traits are woven through the school curriculum, for example, lessons and football training sessions contain a character focus as well as a learning objective. Each term a focus day, involving guest speakers and special activities, is held to address one of the character traits. Short and long-term projects are also undertaken – often seeking to identify and address a need within the local community- to provide opportunities for the students to put the character traits into practice.
RtD believes that this programme should be as practical as possible. It is based on experiential learning, to enable the growth of well-rounded individuals who will go on to achieve notable success in their lives and be known as people of great character, positively influencing the lives of those around them.
The game
Not surprisingly strong emphasis is placed on the technical development of the talented athletes who make up the school roll. The football programme comprises four squads( U11, U13, U15 and U18) each of which undertakes between 12 and 18 hours of training time per week depending on age. This includes technical work, tactical work, personal training, position-specific training, matches,
“ Seven key character traits have been identified as fundamental building blocks”
conditioning work, co-ordination and stabilization work and classroom-based activities including video analysis and football based discussions.
Games are organized against high quality local junior teams, West African academies and junior national teams. RtD teams travel regularly to Europe to compete in tournaments against the best youth teams in the world, which is of key importance for their development.
Para-athletes
Selected players also have the opportunity to travel to elite European teams for training attachments, experiencing and learning from the different football and lifestyle cultures on offer.
As the boys’ football programme is now solidly established RtD is beginning work on other talent programmes. In 2012 it worked with an elite squad of four Ghanaian para-athletes in the lead up to the London Paralympic Games. The work was done in conjunction with local sporting bodies, including the National Paralympic Committee. A specialist programme of support comprising, among other elements, equipment, training, sports science, nutrition, lifestyle and competition support was developed to enable each of the four to reach their full potential.
This was Ghana’ s strongest ever presence at a Paralympic Games. Anita Fordjour finished seventh in the Women’ s T53( wheelchair)
For more information about Right to Dream:
Website: http:// academy. righttodream. com Facebook: www. facebook. com / righttodream Pinterest: http:// pinterest. com / righttodream / football / Twitter: @ right2dream
100m, Charles Narh Teye came ninth with a lift of 140kg in the Men’ s PO 67.50kg category powerlift, Alem Mumuni picked up sixteenth place in the C2 cycling time trial while Raphael Nkegbe Botsyo just missed out on a place in the Men’ s T54( wheelchair) 100m final.
These athletes are now helping to inspire the next generation of young athletes with disabilities and to educate the wider population. RtD’ s long-term goal is to establish a youth para-sport programme.
RtD is non-profit making and a registered charity in Ghana, the UK & the US. It receives sponsorship support from Nike, Aviance, the Hull Blyth Group, PHC Motors, Pippa’ s Fitness and Mantrac.
As of 2012 over 90 children had graduated from RtD. They followed a variety of pathways after leaving the Academy. Thirty-eight graduates were awarded full scholarships to leading universities, private boarding schools and colleges in the US and the UK while another seven signed professional contracts for international football clubs. Other RtD graduates either train or work within the sports industry or have secured contracts with Ghanaian Premier League clubs.
RtD summarizes its work in four words: ethical, opportunity, excellence and sustainability. No matter what pathway they pursue, however, all RtD graduates are expected to help others achieve their dreams and contribute to the development of their country and continent. This really is changing lives through sport!
“ 38 graduates have been awarded full scholarships to leading universities”
10 Oil city magazine
Right: Two RtD students were members of the national U17 team which beat South Africa 2-1 at Sekondi Stadium in December thereby qualifying for the U17 Africa Cup of Nations Tournament in April. On the following day the RtD U18 team played a local side at the Stadium defeating them 4-1.