According to Maria Maes Brown, the American founder and CEO of Amaesng Travel and Tours, it’s her company’s desire to give back to the Ghanaian society and she identified football as the best platform to contribute because of the massive talents available in the country. Konongo was also chosen because of her personal friendship with former (renowned Akosombo based) Right to Dream Academy student and now based in the US, Edward Opoku.

“I visited the Right to Dream Academy in July 2010, met Edward Opoku, formed a friendship and followed his journey during his stay at Right to Dream and we have been close since he moved to the US,” Madam Maes Brown began.

19 year old Opoku is currently finishing his Sophomore year at the University of Virginia where the budding striker was named a Second-Team All American by the US National Soccer Coaches Association at the end of 2016 after finishing second on his team with six goals, five of them match winners (second most in ACC) on their way to the third round of the NCAA tournament.

The teenager has however not forgotten about his people, and will be in Ghana to personally support the Amaesng Travel U-15 tournament in July.

“In my ten trips to Ghana thus far, I was doing business whilst also visiting with Edward or his family while in the country. I felt as though even though my business was my primary reason to be in Ghana, that there was more to my personal purpose to minister in some way in the country,” Maria Maes Brown explained.

“In my last trip, I sought the assistance of my footballer friends to begin examining the possibility to host an annual football tournament to begin assisting other Ghanaian football academies with improved football equipment and non-advertised scouting. This way, Amaesng has the ability to start to change lives through football,” the American businesswoman added.

In the event, the one-day tournament will feature eight U-15 teams selected from the Konongo area in knockout matches of 20 minutes in each half. Aside each participating side receiving a charitable package from Amaesng, there will also be grand prizes for 1st, 2nd and 3rd places. Good players scouted could also be supported to take their budding careers to a new level in a football academy in Ghana or even abroad.

So Universal Soccer Intellectuals, Royal Sporting Club, Golden Palace FC, Talented Eagles FC, Emmanuel FC, Palms FC, Chartered FC and Shooting Stars Academy have the opportunity to emerge the first ever winners of the Amaesng Travels Charity Soccer tournament come July 15 in Konongo.