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Soccer News of Thursday, 19 December 2013

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Ghana’s Right to Dream Academy ranked 15th in the World

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As the dust begins to settle down on another successful year, Ghana’s Right to Dream Academy has been ranked as one of the Best Youth Academy’s in the World by bleacherreport.com

RtD is rated 15th alongside an elite group of clubs including: Barcelona (1), Sporting Lisbon(2), Ajax(3), Sao Paulo (4), Bayern Munich(5), Manchester United(6), Dinamo Zagreb(7), Santos(8), Partisan Belgrade (9), Southampton (10), Real Madrid (11), Stade Rennais(12), Feyenoord(13) and Anderlecht(14).

The Old Akrade based non-governmental organisation achieved a top 10 placement in the 2013 Manchester Premier Cup before its U-18s secured third place at the world famous Gothia Cup in Sweden later on.

Christopher Atkins'report ranks the top academies in world football based on their “production levels in recent years with the focus on clubs who bring players through from an earlier age.”

Founded in 1999 by the then Manchester United scout Tom Vernon, RtD has produced many top footballers for Ghana with five full internationals: King Osei Gyan, Mohammed Abu, Razak Nuhu, David Accam and Abdul Majeed Waris.

RtD has had the most successful African U15 football team in recent years, by achieving four top 8 finishes in the World Finals of the Manchester United Premier Cup .

Over 15 players from the Academy have signed professional contracts with clubs in Europe and Ghana, 32 other graduates are currently schooling in some major High Schools, Colleges and Universities in the USA.

Striker Majeed Waris will likely feature for Ghana at the 2014 World Cup, while several players are contracted to Premier League giants Manchester City, including Bismark Adjei-Boateng .

*Notable Graduates: Majeed Waris, David Accam, Mohammed Abu, Bismark Adjei-Boateng, Razak Nuhu, Godsway Donyoh, Thomas Agyiri and Dominic Oduro.*