Datus Soccer Academy was established by Mr. Francis Dowetin who is also the Executive Director of Datus Complex School Ltd.
Mr. Francis Dowetin has developed a far reaching plan to locate and scout for potential young football talents and take them to school to educate and teach them the rudiments of football. As an educational institution, the players will be able to build a career by themselves, if they do not become a football professional or after their career as a professional ended.


The motives of the Academy is to allow the youth to be in a well structured school and offering courses, seeking to develop the basic skills, encouraging and developing the youngsters into team players. Attention and time is also given to improve player's individual skills. Control, dribbling, turn and run, shooting, tackling, 1on1, 2on2, are only some of the techniques taught at the Football Academy. Players participating in small sided games will learn the arts of attacking, defending, communication and tactics as team members. Mr. Francis Dowetin has instructed the coaches to conduct all training and development programe in a positive environment with encouraging and constructive comments and feedback in order to maintain and build self-esteem and confidence of the young player.


During the course of the year 2003, Datus Soccer Academy admitted children between the ages of 8 - 15 years and awarded them scholarship to attend the school for free. Some of the lucky talents received a full time residential scholarship with strong commitment from the Academy, not only to provide intensive full time education and practice, but also to finance the cost of living of the players.


Datus Football Academy are registered with the Ghana Football Association in the U12, U14, U17 category and third division in Accra.

In 2003 the U12 team became 2nd, the U17 4th in the Greater Accra Juvenile League. In the same year they were invited to participate in the U14 and U17 category of Norway Cup tournament which was called off due to the late issuance of Visas. Instead, Datus Football Academy took the opportunity to play well organized soccer academies like Feyenoord Academy, Polo Academy, FC Nania (Abedi Pele’s team) in Ghana to compete on a very high youth level. They also played a few curtain raiser matches at Accra Sports Stadium during the Coca Cola Top 4 tournament, a prestigious soccer tournament held for the best top Premiership Clubs in Ghana.





During the year 2004, Datus Academy was invited to participate in the Aberdeen International Football Festival (AIFF) in July. The aberdenn football tournament is a prestigious football tournament for different youth categories and was played during one week, from 11th to 18th July 2004. Even Datus Academy featured in the U16 category of the football tournament, Datus Academy were present by their strong U14 side which played teams from South Africa, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Faroe Islands. The Datus team won the 5-a-side competition and became third in the 11-a-side campaign.


In this years Aberdeen International Football Festival 2006, the Ghanaian side of Datus Soccer Academy emerged victorious at the AIFF Under-16 football tournament and won gold in the competition. Victor Lartey, the skillful and dynamic player was awarded the "Best Player" of the tournament and was noticed by coaching staff during the Aberdeen International Football Festival (AIFF). After the tournament Victor Lartey was invited for a trial at FC Aberdeen, the scottish Premeir Club last month and impressed the Aberdeen coaching staff during his trial spell at the club. Due to the problem to acquire a work permit, young Victor Lartey had to travel back to Ghana, but he keeps his fingers cross to receive another chance to become a football professional abroad.





Motives of Datus Soccer Academy.


- To Identify talented with a long term potential for professional careers


- To develop and nurture these youth players through intensive training


- To develop the individual athlete with focus on technical, tactical, physical, psychological and mental training.


For further information about Datus Soccer Academy in Accra, Ghana or Victor Lartley do not hesitate and contact our local representative in Accra, Ghana - Joseph Epton at: josephepton@scoutingteam.com