RtD Graduates Continue to Succeed
January 2011
OLD AKRADI, JANUARY 2011
A new term commences at the Right to Dream (RtD) Academy in partnership with Vodafone Ghana and our youngsters working towards a brighter future are heartened by news of the achievements made by RtD graduates around the world.
Michael Tetteh has signed his first professional contract with Seattle Sounders FC, and was their first choice 'pick' from the elite Major League Soccer (MLS) selection pool. Already part of the generation adidas programme for his outstanding performances for UC-Santa Barbara, Michael is only the third player in the history of his College to turn professional before their senior season. Michael is excited at the opportunity to make the step up to professional level and confirmed “I am excited for this opportunity but this is just the beginning. Hard work and dedication has brought me this far and I feel blessed about that. I look forward to my new team at Seattle and I can't wait to get started. I will continue to work hard to achieve a place in the starting line-up”.
Meanwhile, Eammanuel Boateng has been selected for the All Star Team in the US Youth Soccer Olympic Development Program (ODP) Boys 1994 and 1995 Winter Interregional event. The US Youth Soccer ODP identifies players suitable for National Team selection and provides high-level training and regional competition to benefit and enhance the development of players.
Founder of RtD, Tom Vernon, commented ‘US soccer is fast growing and well organised and the available talent is improving all the time - so for our boys to rise to the top is a good achievement. They now need to transfer the promise they have shown into solid performances on the pitch. We have every confidence they can achieve this - and wish them the very best of luck’.
In Europe, Thomas Boakye has been selected to play for the England School Boys team for the second year and Manchester City signing Mohammed Abu continues his loan spell with Norwegian side Stromsgodset until the end of June 2011. Abu returned 'home' to the Academy in December and enjoyed training with the students at Old Akradi, before returning to Norway.
All at Right to Dream are proud of our graduates' many successes and we wish them all the very best throughout 2011!
For related press releases:
Michael Tettah: http://presidiosports.com/2011/01/tetteh-realizes-his-dream-of-becoming-a-pro-soccer-player/
Emmanuel Boateng: http://www.usyouthsoccer.org/news/story.asp?story_id=5858
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For more information,please contact:
Susie Daniell, Development Officer susie.daniell@righttodream.com tel:0200510072.
NOTE TO EDITORS
Last year the Right to Dream Academy signed a three-year partnership agreement with Vodafone Ghana, enabling RtD to continue to deliver world class coaching and a specialised programme of personal development, education and leadership skills to some of the brightest but underprivileged young football prospects in Ghana.
To date, five RtD graduates have signed professional contracts for international football clubs and a further 23 continue their studies whilst furthering their football ambitions on full scholarships at leading universities, private boarding schools and colleges in the US and the UK. Other RtD graduates either work within the sports industry or have secured contracts with Ghanaian Premier League clubs. In addition to mentoring students at the Academy, they also assist at local development projects on a voluntary basis.