In a thrilling young footballer saga that rivals the best of underdog sports movies, 17-year-old Prince Amoako Junior stands tall on the pitch at FC Nordsjaelland’s Right to Dream Park. With the confidence of a seasoned pro, he boldly proclaims, “Trust me, I see myself playing and scoring some good goals here.”
Fresh off a sensational hat-trick performance against Brondby’s under-19s, Prince – a moniker that already rings of football royalty – finds himself at the center of comparisons to Brighton & Hove Albion’s Ivory Coast star Simon Adingra. The whispers in the football world speak of Prince’s potential to follow in the footsteps of luminaries like Adingra and West Ham United’s Mohammed Kudus, fellow Ghanaians who have made their mark on the global stage.
As Prince looks ahead to his 18th birthday next year, all eyes are on him to become the 32nd prodigy to transition directly from Right to Dream – the acclaimed student-athlete program founded by former Manchester United scout Tom Vernon in Ghana – to Nordsjaelland, a powerhouse in the Danish Superliga based just north of Copenhagen.
FCN, known for their commitment to nurturing young talent, have consistently given opportunities to under-20 players, awarding them a staggering 37 percent of total playing minutes between 2018 and 2023. The club’s investment in graduates of Right to Dream Ghana has paid off handsomely, with over €90million in transfer fees generated from their deals in the past four years.
The success stories of Kamaldeen Sulemana and Ernest Nuamah, who have transitioned to top-tier clubs like Southampton and Lyon respectively with impressive goal-scoring records, serve as inspiration for Prince and his peers. Recent transfers of Ibrahim Osman to Brighton, Mohamed Diomande to Rangers, and Lasso Coulibaly to Auxerre underscore the value placed on graduates from Right to Dream.
With a new wave of talents like Adamo Nagalo, Mario Dorgeles, Levy Nene, and Caleb Yirenkyi set to make their mark, the pipeline to success at FCN shows no signs of slowing down. The prospect of following in the footsteps of these burgeoning stars leaves Prince dreaming of one day donning the colors of Chelsea, a goal he speaks of with nonchalant certainty.
At the heart of Right to Dream’s success lies their International Academy, a hub for elite young players aged 16-18 from Ghana and Denmark. The program not only grooms athletes for on-field success but also provides a pathway for players to sign with clubs under FIFA rules once they reach the age of eligibility.
Juan Mata, the former Chelsea and Manchester United maestro, is in awe of what the partnership between FCN and Right to Dream has achieved. As a free agent training with FCN at 36, Mata recognizes the groundbreaking work being done by the academy, setting a new standard for player development.
In a sporting landscape often tainted by financial greed and self-interest, FC Nordsjaelland and Right to Dream stand out as beacons of integrity. Their commitment to reinvesting all income from transfers and commercial activities back into their academies showcases a rare dedication to the selfless pursuit of nurturing young talent.
As the footballing world watches with bated breath, Prince Amoako Junior and his fellow graduates at Right to Dream stand on the cusp of greatness. With a legacy of success and a bright future ahead, the stage is set for these young stars to shine and fulfill their dreams on the biggest stages in world football.
