Former Black Starlets coach, Laryea Kingston, has embarked on an exciting new journey, taking up the role of head coach at RPS Academies in the United States. 

Tasked with developing the next generation of football stars, Kingston will work alongside a team of coaches, applying his expertise to nurture young talents in the multi-sport academies located in Saint Lucie, Florida.

The Ghanaian, who proudly holds a UEFA Licence B coaching certificate, brings with him a wealth of experience from his previous roles at the renowned Right to Dream Academy and as a coach for the under-18 side of Danish club Nordsjaelland. 

Having officially started work on September 1, he will not only oversee the coaching staff but will also spearhead the football department of the academy. Under a five-year contract, Kingston will undergo performance evaluations every two years, ensuring his long-term impact is regularly assessed.

RPS Academies offers a broad range of sporting disciplines including football, tennis, golf, volleyball, and pickleball, while placing significant emphasis on academic development. 

Their model mirrors that of the acclaimed Right to Dream Academy, which has produced top football talents such as Black Stars’ Mohammed Kudus, Kamaldeen Sulemana, Abdul Mumin, Ernest Nuamah and Ibrahim Osman.

New challenge

In an exclusive interview with Graphic Sports, Kingston expressed his enthusiasm for the new challenge, despite the disappointment of leaving the Black Starlets post during the U-17 WAFU B Championship in Accra. "I had other coaching opportunities, but this option is very good for me," he said. 

Kingston explained how his new employers had been following his progress for some time before approaching him with the opportunity.

With his deep understanding of the Right to Dream model, Kingston feels confident in his ability to lead RPS Academies. “I am very much at home working in an environment that combines education with sports performance, but with even bigger responsibilities this time,” he shared.

As head coach, Kingston will introduce game models he has designed for talent development, ensuring the academy's three-tier football teams – Gold, Silver, and Platinum – develop under his guidance. He will also have a decisive role in key areas such as player promotion within the academy ranks.

Looking to the future, he revealed that the Florida-based academy’s recent acquisition of a club in Slovenia could present him with further coaching opportunities in Europe.

While RPS Academies currently boasts a few African-American players, Kingston is keen to expand the recruitment network to Africa, much like Right to Dream has successfully done. "

We have a few US-based African players here, but we must widen our talent search. I want to give them a scout in Africa, like we had at Right to Dream where players are scouted across the continent, especially in West Africa," he said.

Though fully committed to his new challenge in the US, the Ghanaian tactician hasn’t ruled out future involvement with the senior national team or his former club, Hearts of Oak. 

His ambition remains clear – to continue sharing his wealth of knowledge and passion for the game on the global stage.