Minister impressed with RtD academy
The Minister of Youth and Sports, Mahama Ayariga, has stated that his ministry is taking steps to create football academies based on Right to Dream (RtD) Academy model, which combines football and formal education, across the 10 regions of the country.
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The new minister revealed that yesterday when he paid a working visit to the Right to Dream Academy at Old Akrade to familiarise himself with the operations of the private football academy.
During an interaction with the management of the academy and the media, Mr Ayariga said he was impressed with the facilities and organisational structure of the academy.
He said: “I came to see for myself the facilities and structures that RtD uses to produce such wonderful footballers. I have heard about their model of football and high quality formal education which is acclaimed across the world and I am committing to work towards developing national academies such as this across the country.
“If we groom our footballers this way, we give them options outside of football and also after their football careers come to an end. The best way forward is to develop a partnership with RtD and very soon we will see the results,” he added.
The Minister disclosed that the establishment of national soccer schools was part of the recommendations made by a group of eminent football personalities over the weekend at a two-day retreat in Accra.
“The formation of national academies across Ghana was proposed at the retreat and I am here to observe and learn; this knowledge will help in implementing that recommendation.
RtD academy was founded in the year 2000 by British social entrepreneur, Tom Vernon, and is credited with producing Black Stars players such as Majeed Waris, David Accam and Mohammed Ab.
