Michail Antonio-backed Samba Stars spend two and a half months in England seeking professional deals

In rural Leicestershire this summer the Samba Stars, a Ghanaian academy backed by former West Ham and Nottingham Forest forward Michail Antonio, spent two and a half months in England playing youth sides as they sought professional contracts.

The academy, coached by Freddie Okyere and based in Kumasi while building a new facility in Bompata just over 100 miles north of Ghana's capital Accra, arranged fixtures against EFL and non-league youth teams to put its teenagers directly in front of clubs. "The talent the lads have is incredible," said Antonio. "We created Samba Stars Academy to give young players in Ghana access to elite coaching, shape them as players and create real avenues into the pro game and show how much talent Ghana has."

Several English clubs have offered trials to Samba Stars players this summer, with Bournemouth, Everton, Manchester City, Charlton, Preston, Barnsley and Peterborough taking individuals on trial. Okyere described the squad's reaction to the tour and facilities: "The first two or three weeks it hadn't sunk in, but then they saw the facilities we'd be [using] and the teams we were playing," he said. "They want to go and show what they can do. They are hungry, they really want it. I'm hoping there will be so much interest because we have so much talent here."

There are concrete examples of the pathway already producing moves, with midfielder Listowell Lord Hinneh joining Middlesbrough in February after a trial and training with the first team. Hinneh said: "When I came in January, it was so cold. Experiencing something like that for the first time was tough," and added: "Moving was a big milestone. It just makes me feel the dreams I've been having, thinking of trying to find myself in Europe to become a professional footballer." He told the visiting squad: "[I told them] what you've been dreaming about the future, it starts from here," and urged them: "Don't just try, be so passionate. You need to play and enjoy it because you can have the success in whatever you're doing. You have to just put your heart in it."

The visiting party of 20 initially had visas denied for all but one member before a re-evaluation allowed them entry; once in the UK they were hosted by Brook House College in Market Harborough and trained at Harborough Town, who play in the National League North. Seventeen-year-old goalkeeper Joshua Tetteh Tuwor said: "The football [here] is very detailed," and added: "In Ghana we have the same passion but I'm seeing a different side of professional football. We are grateful to have such opportunities to train with elite coaches."

Rob Newman, who played a key role in bringing Serio Aguero to Manchester City and is an ex-Bristol City and Norwich defender, spent time with the academy in Ghana earlier this year and coached them in Harborough. "Hopefully clubs can see the potential," he said. "Nothing will give me greater pleasure in six months [than] going to see these boys playing in a first team in Europe. I believe they are two or three months away from being able to do that."

On the pitch the Samba Stars recorded a mix of results against youth opposition, beginning with a 9-0 win over Dorking Wanderers and victories against Under-21 sides from Sheffield Wednesday, Luton and Peterborough; there were draws at Sheffield United and Barnsley and a 3-2 defeat by Preston's U21s. Antonio watched them beat Peterborough U19s 6-0 last month and said: "You can see from what they've done since they've been in the UK - the results against top teams - that they have what it takes to play pro level. It's great to help knock down barriers and give these lads a real chance."

The academy's work sits against the backdrop of Ghana's recent international history: "Ghana have reached five of the past six Fifa World Cups - having never qualified before 2006 - and made the quarter-finals in 2010," the academy noted, adding that "At this year's tournament, where they exited in the last-32 against Colombia, eight members of the squad were born overseas." Sherif Mashud, an 18-year-old striker who has trialled with Hungarian side Zalaegerszegi thanks to Samba Stars, said: "You have to have a tough mentality. Back home everyone is depending on you, everyone is looking up to you to succeed, to come and help them, your friends, your family. Everyone is praying for you."

Several Ghanaian players are currently on Premier League books and the country has produced top-flight professionals historically: "The new English season has begun with six Ghana internationals on Premier League books: Mohammed Kudus at Tottenham, Antoine Semenyo with Manchester City, Brighton's Ibrahim Osman, Ipswich's new signing Abdul Fatawu and Coventry's Brandon Thomas-Asante and Caleb Yirenkyi," the report stated, adding that "The first to play in the English top flight was striker Nii Lamptey when he joined Aston Villa in 1994, while midfielder Michael Essien has made the most appearances, winning two titles with Chelsea. Only two other Ghanaians have lifted the Premier League trophy - Jeffrey Schlupp and Daniel Amartey when Leicester stunned the world in 2015-16."

Okyere and Antonio say the English tour is part of a wider plan to develop the academy's infrastructure and pathways into Europe, with Okyere stating: "With the facilities we will have in Ghana we feel we will be top two, top three [academies]. We hope we can bring the best of Ghana to Europe." Newman set a short-term benchmark for success when he said he hoped to see the players appearing in first teams in Europe within months.