Right to Dream Academy’s U-18s have returned home after a very successful and eventful tour of Europe. Gareth Henderby’s team placed an impressive third position in their maiden appearance at the world famous Gothia Cup in Sweden, in July. The U-18s also played series of high profile friendly matches on the UK leg of their tour, where they were predominantly based in Manchester. The team not only played the best U-18s in the UK, but even took on opposition much stronger and older than them including sides made up of first team premier league players. They wrapped up their tour with a 7:1 victory over Red Bull Salzburg in Austria in the first week of September, having chalked some impressive victories over the likes of Scottish giants Celtic and England premier league side Sunderland. “Overall, it was a very successful tour. The boys gained a lot of exposure and have developed very well,” the U-18s coach Gareth Henderby said. “The result is not always the most important thing but the results during the tour were very good. Many of the boys have excelled during the tour.” The team featured some of the best U-18 players in Ghana including the ex national under 17 trio of striker Yaw Yeboah, Thomas Agyepong, the ex captain of the national team, and stalwart defender Kingsley Fobi. There were some outstanding performances from the likes of attacking midfielder Divine Naah who emerged top scorer at the Gothia Cup with a total of six goals. “All the players contributed massively to the team. Divine Naah and Thomas Agyepong stood out with their performances,” Gareth added. One of the major developments during the tour was the transfer of goalkeeper Ali Abass and midfielder Prince Agyemang to Irish side Limerick FC following their impressive performances during the tour. Gareth is delighted for the boys saying they have to make the most out of the transfer. “It is a good opportunity to go and play premier league football in Europe. It’s a step in the right direction because they are likely to get good playing time at their new club. The two players have to go there and market themselves very well and make it to the next level.” The tour forms part of Right to Dream’s philosophy of delivering world class coaching and a specialised programme of personal development and leadership skills to some of the brightest but underprivileged young football prospects in Ghana and Africa as a whole. RtD graduates are expected to contribute to the development of their families, communities and country by providing opportunities for others. Meanwhile, the U-18s have settled down to academic work in school at their Old Akrade base in the Eastern Region with some of the students due to write the IGCSE exams in the coming weeks.