Ho, Jan. 10, GNA - Mr Mathew Narh Doh, Acting Chairman of the National Juvenile Football Association on Friday called for a youth-centred football renaissance to bring Ghana back to its lost glory in the game. He said any such plan should be comparable to the "Ohene Djan pivoted" strategies that shot Ghana into football prominence in the late 1950's and early 60s.

Mr Doh said these at the official opening of the 11th edition of the National Milo Juvenile Under 14 and Under 17 Football fiesta, sponsored by Nestle Ghana Limited in Ho.

He observed that since Ghana's fortunes of football started sliding down, there had been strings of accusations against sports administrators for failing in their duties.

Mr Doh stressed that " you cannot put anything on nothing, and that there was the need for the youth (Juveniles) to be well organised to develop into dependable football materials".

He said countries such as England pinned their hopes of sustaining high levels of football skills and talents on the development of youth football as a result of which weekend football and permanent academies sprang up.

Mr Doh said however on the contrary, even Premier Division Clubs in Ghana refuse to allow Colt teams to play as curtain raisers during matches. He urged District Assemblies to use the recommended percentage of their Common Fund on sport development and also ensure the protection of areas designated for sports fields from being encroached upon by developers. Mr Kwasi Owusu-Yeboa, Volta Regional Minister who formally opened the games and also took the kick off for the opening match said the proposed Youth Bill being discussed would address the problems of the youth. Each region is being represented by one team each in the Under-14 and Under-17 Divisions except Ashanti and Greater Accra who have two teams each for both sides.

In the opening match, Sunyani Young Goldfields, representing the Brong Ahafo Region with a fluid forward line shoved off the bluff of the hosts to chalk the first victory over the homesters, Volta Academy of the Volta Region with a lone goal scored in the second half.

Earlier in the day, King Dobo of the (Greater/Accra) lost 0-1 to Republicans of the Northern Region while Cornerstone Babies from the Ashanti Region drew 0-0 with Golden Boys of the Greater/Accra Region in the Under-14 Division.

In other matches under the same category, Adwenpa Stars of Brong-Ahafo Region lost 1-2 to ABS of Central Region while Ebenezer Babies of the Volta Region beat Anokye Stars from the Upper West Region 1-0.

In the Under-17 category, King Dobo (Greater/Accra) beat Republicans (Northern) 2-0 while Anokye Stars (Upper West) beat Juventus (Upper East) 2-1 and Shakah 04 (Central) lost 0-5 to Anokye Stars (Ashanti). The Juvenile Games started 10 years ago with only teams from Accra, Tema and Kumasi participating but it has now become a national affair with all the regions participating with the venues rotating from region to region.