RtD win the MTG United for Peace Cup, supported by Viasat1 Ghana

LILLESTROM, Norway October 2010

IT WAS ANOTHER EARLY START for the young team from the Right to Dream Academy (RtD), in partnership with Vodafone when they headed off for the Nobel Peace Center in Oslo this morning. The boys were interested to learn about the life of Alfred Nobel and some of the achievements of Peace Laureates rewarded in his name as Chinese dissident Liu Xiaobo was confirmed as the recipient of this year's Nobel Peace Prize.

"It has been a very interesting morning for us," said Academy Captain Francis. "We have learned so much about some of the different causes of conflict in this world and how it is important to strive for tolerance and understanding in our everyday lives."

They then met up with their new friends in football from around the world and joined the Walk for Peace together around the streets of Oslo, before visiting the famous ski jump at Holmenkollen and the Royal Palace where they witnessed the Changing of the Royal Guard.

The boys then returned to Lillestrom and the home of LSK Hallan where RtD faced Estonia's Nomme United '97 in the boys' final of the 2010 MTG United for Peace Cup - which brought together twelve teams from different countries in the name of football, peace and tolerance!

With no score at the end of normal time in the seven-a-side tournament; players from both sides were removed from the field of play following each minute of extra time until RtD's Richard finally broke the deadlock at three-a-side and secured the win 1:0! "I feel very excited about winning this tournament; we are the first team to hold this Cup and we are really grateful for the opportunity we have had here over the past two days. The tournament was a fantastic experience, meeting new friends from other cultures and trying to express ourselves and speak in other languages. Thanks a lot for that!"

"I am so proud of the way our very talented young team have presented themselves both on and off the pitch," said Afi Dzakpasu, from ViaSat1, Ghana. "They represented the ideals of this tournament very well and won friends around the world with their passion and their joy and have been truly great ambassadors for their Academy and for Ghana."

Meanwhile, a surprise was in store for the boys, when RtD Graduate Mohammed Abu, on loan from Manchester City to Norwegian team Stromgodset arrived in Lillestrom to support them! "I was so excited to see my RtD family again" enthused Abu. "I have missed them all so much, it's incredible to see how they have grown and developed already in just three short months. I was seriously proud to watch the way they played and interacted with kids from around the world. They are very lucky to have this experience to relate to people from different countries and cultures at such a young age - and realise we are all basically the same, especially when we're playing football!"

Cestria from Durham, UK, won the girls' final with a convincing 3:1 win over Norway's Team Romerike. "The key to our success is probably a combination of passion for football, extremely hard work, training and supporting each other. I will remember from this weekend of course the victory but also the new friends I have made, such as teams from Ghana and Hungary", explained Cestria's Lauren Jordinson.

The Mixed Final was the centrepiece of the tournament for many of the kids, with one player from each nationality represented on each side, allowing an additional opportunity for them integrate and spend time together, using football to cross language and cultural barriers in a spirit of tolerance and friendship.

The tournament was closed by a Celebrity Charity Game when Peace Ambassadors including Regi Blinker, Jimmy Carter, Ken Monkou and Quinton Fortune played against a Lillestrom All-Star team, to the enjoyment of the 130 kids who joined the celebrities on pitch at half time, parading behind their national flag - an emotional moment for all and a special memory to savour in this very special weekend of discoveries, learning and tolerance.

The boys from Right to Dream leave Norway proud of their achievements and those of their new friends, as they represented Ghana in the first edition of the MTG United for Peace Cup.

For further information:

Teresa Connell, RtD Press Room +33 687 74 01 49 teresa@righttodream.com

Susie Daniell, Development Officer Right to Dream, susie.daniell@righttodream.com