Lims daring to dream as Ghana duo grasp opportunity

Confirmation that the world of football is definitely getting smaller came with the appearance off the bench of Prince Agyemang for Limerick against Dundalk in Oriel Park last week, watched from the dugout by his fellow countryman and the club’s other new signing, goalkeeper Ali Abass.

The two young men from Ghana are graduates of that country’s world- renowned Right To Dream Academy which was founded 15 years ago by British social entrepreneur, Tom Vernon, a former scout for Manchester United in Africa. Working with underprivileged youngsters, the Academy’s goal, he has said, is to make “a meaningful contribution to the development of the nation’s youth through education and through Africa’s passion — football”.

A measure of the project’s success is the Academy’s estimate that 17 graduates have to date signed professional contracts for clubs in Europe — with Helsingborgs winger David Accam its first player to grace the Champions League — while five are senior internationals and still more have played for Ghana’s underage international sides.