Accra, May 20, GNA - Right to Dream (RtD,) Soccer Academy of Ghana beat Daga Young Stars of Cameroon 1-0 in a tense encounter at NIKE Campus in Hilversum, The Netherlands on Thursday to book a ticket to represent Africa in the world finals of the Manchester United Premier Cup (MUPC) between 4-7, August 2010.
In a committed display from both teams with precise passing and quick break forward from the Right to Dream team just minutes into the first half, the Ghanaian youngsters split the Daga defence and allowed Agyepong to place the ball neatly past the opponent's keeper directly into the back of the net.
Daga Young Stars fought back bravely but the defence of the RtD ga= ve no quarter and although there were chances on both sides, it was the Ghanaian team that held their resolve strongly to guard their single goal=
that made it decisive. Coach Johnny McKinstry of RtD who was enthused with the victory sai= d "We're so proud of our boys. We hoped they were good enough to step up before we came to Holland - but now we know they really do have what it takes to get the ultimate". They've always been a close knit group - but I am really impressed= by the way they came through for each other on the pitch - each one looking for the best option and working for each other, playing for the team, he adde= d. "Daga were a good team and quite honestly they had the better of t= he second half, but we held firm. Going to Manchester will be a whole new challenge - the prospect of showing what they can do on a world stage is really exciting and we will now be working towards that." Coach Ndigui Louis Cedard of Daga Young Stars' was circumspect= : "Not the result we'd hoped for after winning all of our three matches yesterday of course, but we've played some good football and enjoyed the experience. "The team have also learned a valuable lesson - that you need one hundred percent concentration every minute of a match, we had not settled=
into the game when Right to Dream caught us on the break and that lack of=
concentration cost us dear.
"Credit to the Ghanaian team - they slowed the game and did not allow us time on the ball to score. But we'll be back next year even more=
determined to go all the way", he added. Egypt's ENPPI won the bronze match when they also won their matc= h with a 1-0 score line against Esperance de Tunis, whose coach admitted, "This has not been an easy tournament for us, but we have learned a great=
deal.
"The team from Ghana are incredibly skilful they play in the Du= tch style, and are very technical and talented players. In my opinion they we= re the best team here and I hope they do well in Manchester for us all." At the closing ceremony, NIKE's Regional Sports Marketing Director, Tina Salminen thanked the teams for sharing their talents and wished Right to Dream good luck as they represent Africa at the MUPC Worl= d Finals in Manchester from their "African family of football".
Ms Salminen also thanked the KNVB for their help throughout the tournament and the Gabon born Belgian Referee J=E9r=F4me Efong N'Zolo and= his assistants, who officiated at the final match.
Tournament Most Valuable Player (MVP), voted by the coaches of the opposing sides was awarded to Evina from Daga Young Stars with the award for Top Scorer going to Noah from Right to Dream of Ghana.
Right to Dream, the reigning Premier Cup Champions of Africa will jo= in host team Manchester United in August, alongside Orlando Pirates; Interna=E7ional; Colo-Colo; Shillong Lajong; Kyoto Sanga; Hyundai Junior High School; Werder Bremen, FC Torino; Newcastle United; Bucaspor - and the fi= rst ever Premier Cup Champions, FC Porto to play in the final at Old Traffor= d in August.
