Accra, March 30, GNA - Emmanuel Kwesi Afranie, a former national and veteran coach has proposed the formation of District and Regional Juvenile teams to ensure smooth transition of talents from the youth to the senior level.

Speaking in an interview with the GNA Sports, coach Afranie said without the formation of the District and Regional Juvenile teams, the high number of talents unearthed in the various talent hunt exercises will not be beneficial to the country.

Coach Afranie said there are a lot of soccer talents in the hinterland but they have gone unnoticed due to the absence of juvenile teams in the districts and regional levels.

The veteran coach who has handled almost all the high profile Premier League clubs in the country, noted that there is the need for all the Districts and Regions to form Under-15, 17, and U-20 teams, adding that such a goal will ensure the smooth transition of talents from one stage to the other till they reach the senior level. He added that such juvenile footballers will therefore be better placed to serve the needs of their Districts and Regions during soccer festivals and competition, whilst they are also given the needed exposure to develop their talents.

Coach Afranie said without such measures, the talents unearthed through the talent hunt exercises will not realize their potential. "Many talents unearthed from the various talent hunts have gone waste due to the absence of strong structures that will see to their development and the country has now become the losers". He stated.

The coach who is one of the major facilitators at the on-going national talent hunt organized by Coca Cola Company Limited, said they have over the past months discovered several soccer talents, who when given the needed structures and training will be beneficial to the nation's quest of having a ready crop of talented footballers.

"People will be amazed at the caliber of players discovered during the exercise and we should not allow them to go waste because they hold the future of the nation".

Coach Afranie commended the beverage company for initiating the talent hunt exercise and called on other corporate bodies to follow the example of Coca Cola to support the youth develop their talents in various fields. The Coca Cola Under-17 Soccer Championship will end this week at the Wa Stadium in the Upper West Region with eight teams competing for honours.