"We are under pressure" -- Minister

Accra, Aug 3, GNA -- Papa Owusu-Ankomah, Minister of Education, Science and Sports has said the glittering performance of the senior national team, the Black Stars at the Germany 2006 World Cup has put the country under some pressure to fashion out strategies to sustain and improve its standard of football.

He described Ghana's giant leap on the FIFA Coca Cola World rankings as one factor that has intensified the pressure to work harder to sustain the ascendancy and develop the globular leather from the grassroots.

This were contained in a speech read on his behalf by Dr Emmanuel Owusu Ansah, a Director at the Sports Ministry during the launching of this year's edition of the Mylik Classic U-19 Tournament held in Accra on Thursday.

The Stars jumped over 20 places on the world ladder and with that the Minister said that even though Ghanaians are justified to celebrate the achievement, 91we need to quickly put the feat behind us and focus on how to effect another giant leap in the near future'.

The solution, he reckoned lies in the development of youth football with scientific and management of young talent that would blossom to carry the country's hope alive.

The Ministry, he said as a first step, has released 500 million cedis to the Retired National Football Association to map out a programme aimed at impacting their knowledge, experiences and skills through the basic schools in their quest to develop the game from the grassroots level.

Papa Owusu-Ankomah said the Ghana Football Association (GFA) has also been tasked to come out with guidelines for the establishment of Soccer Academies and also arrange coaching courses for the retired footballers who would later be employed in the Districts to assists schools, colleges and colts football clubs.

"We will like to see that every soccer academy meets some minimum requirement with respect to facilities, equipment, technical staffs, age category and career development of the youth".

The Minister was buoyant that with proper handling of the Soccer Academies, Ghana football would be put on the desired pedestal.

Kofi Mpiani Bawuah, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the organizers appealed to the GFA to adopt Mylik Sports as a collaborative partner to develop youth football and also provide them the right to organise curtain raisers to Premier League matches in Accra and Kumasi. He also appealed to the GFA to fashion out a policy that would make corporate bodies that support the Stars to channel part of their support to youth development.

The CEO further appealed to the Ghana Education Service to take another look at their physical education policy and make the necessary amendments capable of ensuring a greater focus on sporting activities. 03 August 06