Nyantakyi outlines FA plans for juvenile football

President of the GFA, Kwesi Nyantakyi has urged the State to partner the GFA to develop grass root football for the enhancement of the game in the country as he took some time while appearing at the Presidential Commission set up to enquire into the 2014 Brazil World Cup appearance to outline the FAs efforts in developing juvenile and grassroot football.

Whiles commending the state for its investment in the national teams during his third appearance at the Brazil 2014 World Cup Commission of Inquiry, he urged the state to further direct its attention on the development of basic infrastructure in the regions and districts to support juvenile football and help Ghana raise more talents.

"The state has continued to support our national teams and we appreciate that. If we sponsor the Black Stars, it is good but not enough. We should sustain a development system that will feed into the black stars and the other national teams," said Nyantakyi.

The FA president acknowledged the difficulties various individuals go through to contribute to the development of grass root football. Whiles expressing the GFA's commitment to complimenting their efforts, he lamented the FA's financial constraints.

"There are many committed people at the local levels who are engaged in grass root football. Some of these people sell their properties to finance the operations of colts football. When you go to Tamale, there are people who sell their guinea fowls to finance colts football and when you go to Wa, people sell bricks to finance colts football. I think we need to support all these people. What they need are basic things; just the basic tools for the trade like footballs, football boots, and kits as well as something small for them to pay transportation cost to organize and play football." Nyantakyi said.

The President of the GFA outlined the efforts of the FA in developing the juvenile game.

“When we were playing colts, there were less than 200 colts clubs in the Country. Now we have over 3600. So the FA has decided that no region should have more than 12 colts clubs with the exception of Greater Accra, Brong Ahafo and Ashanti which can have 24. This is to improve on the quality and ensure that we can effectively support them to produce the talents we need.

The GFA has been supporting them but there have been challenges. Some years ago, for example, our equipments sponsor, Puma donated 2000 footballs.

Unfortunately the duties at the Ports were so high, it would have been better if we had bought them here, so we left them at the ports”, he stated.

COACHING

The GFA president said the development of coaches for grass root football is as important as the provision of basic equipment and infrastructure.

"Coaching is a profession like accountancy, law and medicine so it is important to equip these people with the relevant courses.

"The GFA has since 2006 developed over 3000 coaches free of charge. We have also organized license B and A courses for top flight coaches who can afford. We need to develop our coaches, especially those at he grass root so that they can teach the kids basic rudiments in football."