World Cup proceeds for youth development - GFA

Accra, July 9, GNA - The Ghana Football Association (GFA) has said a bulk of the proceeds from the participation of the Black Stars at the 2010 FIFA World Cup will be channeled into youth development to guarantee a future for the senior national team.

Ghana received 14 million dollars for reaching the quarter-finals of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, with an additional one million dollars as participation fee from the Federation of International Football Association (FIFA).

Kwesi Nyantakyi, President of the GFA who announced these at a press conference in Accra on Friday, said the Association will hold discussions with the Ministry of Youth and Sports over the nature of youth projects to be developed with the proceeds from the World Cup.

He indicated that the two bodies will initiate a common youth development project that will see to the continual growth of soccer talents to feed the national team for future assignments.

The GFA President said efforts will be made at unearthing more youthful talents to participate in juvenile competitions in a bid to prepare them well for the senior national team.

Nyantakyi noted that plans are also in place to give further training to coaches of the various juvenile teams in the country to accord the juvenile players with the needed technical guidance in their development process.

He described the future of the Black Stars as very bright following the presence of young and talented players in the team, who participated in the 2010 World Cup.

Nyantakyi said the GFA is now focused on seeing to the qualification of the Black Stars to the next African Cup of Nations adding that the target is to win the next competition.

On the call for the retirement of some players from the national team, Nyantakyi said, 93it has to be a gradual process because nobody can be a star forever.

"At a point there will be the need for a player to pave way for others, but it is going to be a gradual process". He noted.