Junior Setsofia Aqetey, a 16-year-old Ghanaian schoolboy, is juggling his final year in Senior High School with a breakthrough season in the Ghana Premier League. He travels daily from Accra to Akatsi on a 5:30 a.m. bus, using the journey to study for his exams. Aqetey's dedication to both academics and football has earned him recognition, with seven goal contributions in eight league games. His story has sparked inspiration among young footballers in Ghana.
Aqetey's daily commute is not an easy one. The bus is crowded, noisy, and uncomfortable, but he uses the time to study, balancing his mathematics past questions on his knees and using a penlight clamped between his teeth. His backpack contains his school uniform and training kit for Vision FC, the team he plays for. By 7:00 a.m., he will be in class solving simultaneous equations, just two days after tormenting Dreams FC with a goal and two assists.
Aqetey's father, Sir Ishmael Kwasi Amegatsey, is a football development advocate and founder of Volta International Sports Academy, where Junior first learned to play football. Amegatsey nurtured Aqetey as both a father and a coach, recalling how his son would sleep with a football as a child. Vision FC signed Aqetey at 15 with the condition that he continues his education. His father insisted on an education clause, emphasizing that no school means no football.
Despite his success, Aqetey has faced setbacks, including being called up and dropped at the U15, U16, and U17 levels with no explanation. However, he has not given up, telling himself that setbacks are lessons, not the end. His father remembers the night after the third rejection, when Aqetey went to the back of the house and kicked a ball against the wall for two hours, demonstrating his determination to keep playing.
Aqetey's role model is Nigeria's Samuel Chukwueze, whom he admires for his work rate. His dream is to win the Ballon d'Or, and he has a message for young footballers in the Volta Region: stay disciplined, respect coaches, stay in school, and stay away from bad things. With a lot of talent in Volta, Aqetey believes that if he can achieve his goals, others can too.
Aqetey's daily routine is challenging, as he balances his academic and football commitments. He studies on the bus, does assignments after training at night, and skips celebrations to focus on his studies. After a recent game, he boarded the bus to Akatsi, where he had a quiz on Monday. His dedication to both academics and football is inspiring, and his story has sparked interest among football fans in Ghana.
As Aqetey continues to pursue his dual goals, he remains focused on his objectives. He has not yet written his final WASSCE paper, but he is learning how to carry two futures without dropping either. With the support of his father, coaches, and teammates, Aqetey is determined to succeed in both academics and football, and his story serves as an inspiration to young footballers in Ghana.
Key points
- Junior Setsofia Aqetey balances his final year in Senior High School with a breakthrough season in the Ghana Premier League.
- Aqetey studies on the bus from Accra to Akatsi, using a penlight and his knees as a desk.
- His role model is Nigeria's Samuel Chukwueze, and his dream is to win the Ballon d'Or.
