Charisma and character - the path to success
October 2011
A large proportion of an Academy boy’s life at Right to Dream is focused on the development of their individual characters and a huge amount of time and effort is put into bettering themselves. Over the last week, there have been a series of achievements that have demonstrated that the hard work really does pay off.
Graduate, Mohammed Abu, played his first match for Ghana’s national team, the Black Stars, last weekend in a qualifying match against Sudan for the 2012 African Cup of Nations. Coming on as a second-half substitute, Abu had a good opportunity to demonstrate his strengths to the coach and performed well. Playing for the Black Stars is many a Ghanaian boys’ dream but Abu has certainly earned his position there through years of hard work and commitment on and off the pitch. Whilst at the Academy, Abu impressed staff with his determination to succeed in life, his hard working attitude and extrovert nature and these characteristics have remained with him since graduating from the Academy. Abu has often been seen practicing techniques and drills after training hours and has encouraged fellow team mates to do the same at Norweigan team Stromsgodset. Tonight, Ghana will be playing Nigeria and Abu has been selected to start the game - best of luck to him.
All of our recent graduates are settling in to their new schools in the USA and adapting well to the cultural change as well as making new friends. In particular, Francis Tekyi Atuahene has made an impressive start as he has been elected Class President at Hotchkiss School after just one month. Francis was Academy Captain at the Right to Dream Academy for a year, demonstrating strong leadership skills as well as acting as a good role model to the other students. His development of character has clearly been recognised and embraced by his new colleagues – well done Francis.
Students at the Academy have also been rewarded lately as the U14 team brought home the MTG United for Peace Cup from Norway for the second year running. Right to Dream represented Ghana as one of the twelve teams from across the world playing in the international tournament which represents more than just football; coinciding with the announcement of the Nobel Peace Prize Laureate those involved were encouraged to learn other valuable skills and to make friends with peers from a variety of nations. During their visit to the “School of Tolerance” the different nationalities formed teams to build structures from straw in an exercise designed to demonstrate the importance of listening to and being patient with others to promote peace.
Harry Adepkui, Right to Dream’s Head of Pastoral Department, commented: “It was a great cultural experience for the boys involved and provided them all with an opportunity to understand other cultures through the friendships they made. The boys were great ambassadors for both Ghana and Right to Dream and showed great maturity throughout the event earning respect from all those involved with the tournament.”
James Meller, COO, reported: "It’s been a great week at the Academy – many congratulations to our graduates Abu and Francis, and to our current U14s squad. Their successes are the culmination of years of hard work and dedication. Our boys are talented, they have access to a good education, they have great potential. But it is their character that enables them to succeed and fulfill that potential. Everyday, we see their determination to better themselves in school, to improve as footballers and encourage each other. It will define who they are and what they can become."
ENDS