With today's acquisition of Ghanaian midfielder David Accam, Columbus Crew SC welcomes into the ranks another Right to Dream Academy graduate who displays as much charitableness to the community as he does skill on the pitch.
Alongside fellow countryman Eddie Opoku, who is currently on loan with Birmingham Legion FC, Accam, a native of the Teshie-Nungue area of Accra, Ghana, is another graduate of the lauded development academy after enrolling in the program in 2004, and in October 2017, was highlighted among five other Ghanaian Right to Dream graduates playing in Major League Soccer.
Founded in 1999, the Right to Dream Academy spans multiple continents with the mission of utilizing education and soccer as an engine for social development.
Through academies in Ghana, FC Nordsjælland in Denmark and foundations in the USA and UK, the academy combines football development, an innovative educational curriculum and a tailored character development program to help create transformational leaders of the future.
Upon graduation from Right to Dream in 2008, Accam was award a three-year scholarship to attend Hartpury College in the UK, and from there, a spot in the prestigious Nike Football Academy before beginning his professional football career in 2012 in Sweden.
Following a spell at Ostersunds FK, Accam signed for five-time Swedish champions Helsingborgs IF in 2012 before coming stateside to Major League Soccer for opportunities with the Chicago Fire and the Philadelphia Union.
As of October 2017, Accam was then just one of six Right to Dream graduates to make it to MLS, and is one of three current or former Crew players to come from the academy (Edward Opoku, Mohammed Abu).
Keeping in the spirit of giving back, Accam partnered alongside Right to Dream in June 2016 and launched the David Accam community pitch in Kumasi, one of the largest metropolitan areas in Ghana.
