GFA calls for crusade against use of over-aged players

Mr Ben Koufie Chairman of the Ghana Football Association (GFA) has appealed to members of the National Juvenile Association (NJA) to join the crusade against the use of over aged players in Juvenile competitions.

Speaking at the congress of the NJA on Thursday, Mr Koufie said it is high time right things get done at the juvenile level so that the nation can boast of players who can play for National team for a along time. He urged all officials to stick to the right ages of players at the junior level adding, "officials of juvenile soccer must learn to be honest in all their endeavours in order to move Ghana football forward."

He said they must ensure the gradual movement of players in the various age categories to the national level adding that if young players were well developed at the grassroots they would enrich the premier league as well as the national team.

He said using over aged players at the juvenile competitions does not augur well for the development of football therefore "Ghanaians must learn to loose in order to win in future." He said it is better to use players with the right ages at the juvenile competitions and not winning than using players who are above such ages to win but cannot performed well in future.

Mr Koufie asked the officials to instil discipline at the juvenile level because if this was not done at that stage the young ones would not get a good foundation. He said the five-year development plan of the FA is aimed at developing football at the youth level by providing juvenile clubs with well-trained and qualified coaches.

He said by this process juvenile football in the country would be given a strong foundation and there would always be young and strong players to play for the national team. Since his resumption to office Mr Koufie has strongly advocated the use of appropriate ages in football competitions as a basis for his five-year development plan for Ghana football.