Right to Dream
Founded1999 (1999)
FounderTom Vernon
TypeFootball academy
Registration no.1108821
Location
OwnerMansour Group
Employees
c. 300

Right to Dream is a youth association football academy system based in Ghana. It started as an Accra residential school and training center in 1999. As of 2021, it was owned by Mansour Group.

It is now a multi-club multi-academy group with branches in Egypt as well as Mansour Group's professional teams, FC Nordsjælland in Denmark, TUT FC in Egypt and San Diego FC in the United States.

History

Right to Dream Academy was founded in 1999 by Tom Vernon, who had been Manchester United's head scout in Africa.[1][2][3][4] It started on a small scale and, unlike most youth academies, independent of a professional team, training a small number of boys who were initially housed in Vernon's home.[5][6] Some scouts and other staff were volunteers.[6]

In 2004, the organization began partnering with US boarding high schools to offer athletic scholarships.[6] In 2010, the organization opened a new facility south of Akosombo in the Eastern Region of Ghana.[7][8] As of 2021, it is an all-scholarship boarding school for promising footballers drawn from all over West Africa.

Bleacher Report ranked it 15th in their 2013 ranking of youth academies.[9] A girls’ youth system programme was introduced in 2013, the first in Africa.[10][11][12][13] In 2014, Right to Dream Academy launched the first Right to Dream school programme in Takoradi.[14][15] In 2015, Right to Dream bought FC Nordsjaelland.[3]

As of 2015, partners included Tullow Oil Ghana,[16][17] Mantrac Ghana,[18][19] Ashoka,[20] and Laureus Sport For Good Foundation.[21]

In 2021, Mansour Group invested $120 million in a takeover and announced it was forming a new entity, ManSports.[3]

In 2022, Right to Dream bought Egyptian pro football club TUT FC. The Mansour Group also financed an expansion team in Major League Soccer that will begin play in 2025 and be based in San Diego, California. The team, named San Diego FC, will construct a Right to Dream academy near El Cajon, California.[22]

Graduates

Since 1999 the academy has graduated 282 students, according to their website as of 2023.[23]

Since 2007, Right to Dream has produced over 157 graduates playing professional football Globally. 67 Right to Dream graduates have also received call ups into National teams, from the Black Starlets(U17) to the Black Stars.[24][25] As of May 2023, Right to Dream had over 56 graduates studying at high schools and universities across the US and UK.[26]

67 RTD graduates (both male and female) have represented their country at senior international level.

7 of these players played at the Men’s FIFA World Cup in 2022.

RTD Ghana and FCN have produced 146 professional players in total (and counting).

In 2022, 5 FCN male graduates and 8 female graduates signed pro contracts.

Tournament play

Right to Dream squads travel to Europe regularly to compete in tournaments.[27][28]

Right to Dream U15s won the 26th edition of the Marveld Tournament in the Netherlands[29] The U15 team of Right to Dream Academy won the 2015 TopC-RKMSV tournament in the Netherlands.[30][31] The academy participated in the 2013 and 2014 editions of the Gothia Cup, placing third in 2013 and winning in 2014.[32] In 2015, Right to Dream returned to the Gothia Cup and successfully defended their title, making the academy the first team to win the Gothia Tipselit Trophy in two successive years.[33]

The academy has won the African championship and thus retained the right to represent Africa each year since the 2008 edition.[34] Right to Dream has achieved five top-eight finishes in the World Finals of the Manchester United Premier Cup, playing the best football teams from Manchester United, Juventus, Paris Saint Germain and Real Madrid.[35][36] It placed a best of 3rd in 2009,[37] and in 2014, the academy placed 4th.[38] In 2015, Right to Dream won the Manchester United Premier Cup world finals for the first time in their history.[39][40]

In 2010, Right To Dream were named Peace Ambassadors and invited to participate in a tournament during that year's Nobel Peace Prize Weekend.[41]

In 2015, Right to Dream U18 and U15 were unbeaten for a combined total of 42 matches on their European Tours.[42][43]

In 2022, Right to Dream U18 won the Gothia Cup and the Ajax Future Cup in 2023.

Programmes

Scholarships are granted to Africans, both boys and girls, to study at the purpose-built Academy, located on the banks of the Volta River.[44] Every two years, 15–20 students are selected out of 30,000 trialists and assessed both on their athletic ability and their academic performance to study and train at the Academy on 100% scholarships.[45][46] Right to Dream's International School is an accredited centre for the Cambridge International Examination.[47] The academy also offers a combination of local and international curriculums.

The first Right to Dream School opened in Takoradi in September 2015.[14] The programme is a partnership between Right to Dream and a leading private school in each identified location.[15]

Right to Dream is a not-for-dividend business in Egypt and Denmark, a charity in Ghana and is currently a 501(c)(3) organisation in the United States, which places students from Right to Dream Academy into US boarding schools and universities on athletic scholarships.[48]

Notable alumni

References

  1. ↑ Okine, Sammy Heywood (March 28, 2014). "Right to Dream to outdoor Mantrac Center on Friday". ghanaweb.com. Retrieved June 16, 2015.
  2. ↑ Idealist.org (2013). "Right to Dream Academy". Idealist.org. Archived from the original on June 19, 2015. Retrieved June 16, 2015.
  3. 1 2 3 Edwards, Piers (20 January 2021). "Egyptian billionaires invest $120m in Ghana football academy". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 2021-01-21. Retrieved 2021-01-22.
  4. ↑ Ghanasoccernet (4 November 2011). "Q&A With Right To Dream Founder And Ceo Tom Vernon". Peacefmonline.com Sport. Archived from the original on 28 May 2015. Retrieved 28 May 2015.
  5. ↑ Right to Dream (2015). "About Us". Right to Dream. Archived from the original on May 7, 2015. Retrieved May 28, 2015.
  6. 1 2 3 4 Thompson, Wright. "OTL: Hungry for a Better Life". ESPN. Retrieved 2021-01-22.
  7. ↑ Modernghana (29 March 2010). "Right to Dream Inaugurates New Site". Modernghana.com. Retrieved May 28, 2015.
  8. ↑ Myjoyonline (14 July 2011). "Mahama Ayariga Pays Working Visit to Right to Dream Academy". Myjoyonline.com. Archived from the original on 28 May 2015. Retrieved May 28, 2015.
  9. ↑ Christopher, Atkins (16 December 2013). "Ranking the best youth academies in world football". Bleacherreport.com. Archived from the original on 28 May 2015. Retrieved May 28, 2015.
  10. ↑ K. Dogbevi, Emmanuel (24 April 2013). "Right to Dream To Establish First Girls Football Academy in Africa". Ghanabusinessnews.com. Archived from the original on 17 September 2013. Retrieved May 27, 2023.
  11. ↑ Kwaw, Erasmus (June 4, 2013). "Right to Dream launches Africa's first Girls' Football Academy". goal.com. Archived from the original on September 24, 2015. Retrieved July 7, 2015.
  12. ↑ Viasat1 (April 19, 2013). "Kotoko coach lauds Right to Dream for new Girls Academy". viasat1.com. Archived from the original on July 7, 2015. Retrieved July 7, 2015.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  13. ↑ Kwaw, Erasmus (April 4, 2014). "I'm MoreExperienced Now, says RtDs Fuseina Mumuni". goal.com. Archived from the original on March 6, 2016. Retrieved June 16, 2015.
  14. 1 2 Modernghana (2014). "Tullow Oil, Right to Dream Launch School Programme in Takoradi". Modernghana.com. Retrieved May 28, 2015.
  15. 1 2 Right to Dream (2014). "Right to Dream Launch RTD School Programme in Takoradi". Right to Dream. Archived from the original on May 28, 2015. Retrieved May 28, 2015.
  16. ↑ Right to Dream (19 March 2014). "Tullow Ghana Ltd. partners with RtD". Right to Dream. Archived from the original on 28 May 2015. Retrieved May 28, 2015.
  17. ↑ Myjoyonline (March 30, 2015). "Right to Dream and Tullow oil mark a year of success on and off the pitch". Archived from the original on May 30, 2015. Retrieved June 18, 2015.
  18. ↑ Mensah, Kent (March 31, 2014). "Mantrac Ghana builds Pristine pitches for Right to Dream". goal.com. Archived from the original on September 24, 2015. Retrieved June 17, 2015.
  19. ↑ Zurek, Kweku (March 31, 2014). "Right to Dream opens Mantrac Centre". graphic.com.gh. Archived from the original on June 17, 2015. Retrieved June 17, 2015.
  20. ↑ Ashoka Africa (2014). "Right to Dream Academy (RtD)". Ashoka.org. Archived from the original on May 28, 2015. Retrieved June 17, 2015.
  21. ↑ Laureus (2012). "Right to Dream". laureus.com. Archived from the original on May 28, 2015. Retrieved June 17, 2015.
  22. ↑ Van Grove, Jennifer (October 1, 2023). "San Diego MLS team leases 28-acre site on Sycuan Reservation for $150M training campus". The San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved October 20, 2023.
  23. ↑ "Right to Dream". Right to Dream. Retrieved 2021-01-22.
  24. ↑ Ghanasoccernet (July 5, 2014). "28 players named for final African Youth Championship qualifier". ghanaweb.com. Retrieved June 16, 2015.
  25. ↑ Metrofmonline (June 3, 2015). "AFCON qualifiers: Avram Grant names 23 man squad for Mauritius clash". metrofmonline.com. Archived from the original on June 17, 2015. Retrieved June 17, 2015.
  26. ↑ Gyimah, Edmund Okai (December 18, 2013). "It will be weird to play for England again, says, Ghana's Boakye". goal.com. Archived from the original on September 24, 2015. Retrieved June 16, 2015.
  27. ↑ Kwaw, Erasmus (2014). "Right to Dream U14s on European tour". goal.com. Retrieved June 16, 2015.
  28. ↑ Kwaw, Erasmus (2014). "Right to Dream U14s on European tour". goal.com. Retrieved June 17, 2015.
  29. ↑ Marveld (May 31, 2015). "Right to Dream Ghana winner of the 26th Marveld tournament". marveld.info. Retrieved June 16, 2015.
  30. ↑ Ghanasportsonline (25 May 2015). "Ghana's Right to Dream Academy wins 2015 TopC-RKMSV U15 Championships in Netherlands". Ghanasportsonline.com. Archived from the original on 28 May 2015. Retrieved 28 May 2015.
  31. ↑ TopC-RKMSV (May 25, 2015). "Champions 2015: Right to Dream from Ghana". topc-rkmsv.nl. Archived from the original on May 29, 2015. Retrieved May 28, 2015.
  32. ↑ Goal (21 July 2014). "Ghana's Right to Dream Wins Gothia Cup 2014". Goal.com. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 28 May 2015.
  33. ↑ Gara, Johanna (July 18, 2015). "Mission accomplished for Right to Dream". Gothiacup.com. Archived from the original on July 24, 2015. Retrieved July 27, 2015.
  34. ↑ Afrikan Soccer (August 2008). "African under 15 champs Right to Dream Academy drawn alongside Werder Bremen in MUPC". Afrikansoccer.com. Retrieved June 27, 2009.
  35. ↑ Premier Cup Africa (2009). "Premier Cup ´09 Africa Qualifications". premiercup.com. Archived from the original on 2009-08-28. Retrieved June 27, 2009.
  36. ↑ Xorlali, Affi (March 27, 2014). "Successful team with 4 top 8 finishes". sportscrusader.com. Archived from the original on June 17, 2015. Retrieved June 16, 2015.
  37. ↑ Manchester United Premier Cup (August 8, 2014). "Quarter finalists: Right to Dream Academy". Manchesterunitedpremiercup.com. Retrieved June 16, 2015.
  38. ↑ Dornu-Lieku, Prince (August 11, 2014). "Manchester United Premier Cup-Right to Dream take pride in 4th place finish". allsports.com.gh. Archived from the original on June 17, 2015. Retrieved June 16, 2015.
  39. ↑ Marshall, Adam (July 23, 2015). "Right to Dream win MU Premier Cup". manutd.com. Archived from the original on July 23, 2015. Retrieved June 27, 2015.
  40. ↑ Marshall, Adam (July 23, 2015). "Right to Dream Crowned MUPC 2015 World Champions". manchesterunitedpremiercup.com. Archived from the original on July 29, 2015. Retrieved June 27, 2015.
  41. ↑ Modernghana (2010). "Right to Dream Academy- 2010 MTG Peace Ambassadors". modernghana.com. Retrieved October 1, 2010.
  42. ↑ Atsu, Christian (2015). "Right to Dream U15 with Christian Atsu". Christian Atsu. Archived from the original on June 17, 2015. Retrieved June 17, 2015.
  43. ↑ Ghanasoccernet (2015). "Ghana Winger, Christian Atsu in personal praise of Right to Dream U15 Team". ghanasoccernet.com. Archived from the original on June 17, 2015. Retrieved June 17, 2015.
  44. ↑ Modernghana (December 18, 2014). "Tullow Partners with Right to Dream to Launch Juvenile school". modernghana.com. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved June 17, 2015.
  45. ↑ Sackitey, Gideon Asare (July 29, 2010). "Vodafone and Right to Dream Academy Begin Recruitment". ghanaweb.com. Archived from the original on July 7, 2015. Retrieved July 7, 2015.
  46. 1 2 "African football academy creates future stars - CNN.com". www.cnn.com. Retrieved 2021-01-22.
  47. ↑ Amadu, Umaru Sanda (March 21, 2015). "Grooming Ghana's Future Black Stars". newstimeafrica.com. Retrieved June 16, 2015.
  48. ↑ Myjoyonline (August 17, 2011). "Right to Dream partners Vodafone to give scholarships". myjoyonline.com. Archived from the original on June 17, 2015. Retrieved June 17, 2015.
  49. ↑ "Edward Opoku '15 Signs with MLS". Millbrook School. Retrieved 22 January 2021.
  50. ↑ "Aduana captain Saka hints at leaving the club | Goal.com". www.goal.com. Retrieved 2021-07-15.
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