While the new 2022-23 academic year is just getting started, our students at the Right to Dream academy in Ghana are already learning a lot about football, resilience, AND Chris Hughton.
Every year, the academy hosts several meetups with influential figures who made it on or off the field to extend the students’ learning opportunities beyond the classroom.
And this year got off to a perfect start, as the students met with Ghana national team technical advisor Chris Hughton, who’ll be on the sidelines during the Black Stars’ 2022 World Cup campaign just over two months from now.
With a long and impressive career as a footballer and manager, Hughton had lots to share with the students (and they had lots to learn, too). His top advice, however, was developing a positive attitude and a resilient character – something we’re always proud to be teaching our students at Right to Dream.
“The best advice I can give is to never give up. Know your goals and do everything you can to achieve them,”
the former Tottenham Hotspur left-back said.
“Disappointment is something you must be able to cope with; you must be resilient because people go through periods of disappointment and are able to come out with success,”
Hughton added.
The students listened to the former Republic of Ireland international as he told them they should always remind themselves why they’re at Right to Dream and what they’re trying to achieve, advising them to focus on their professional football and academic pathways.
The academy coaches also got the chance to speak with the former Premier League manager and learn from his experiences, as he shared some of the highs and lows in his 40+ year career journey.
Hughton praised the Right to Dream academy model and promised to visit again to have longer conversations with the students and staff.