TONY ADAMS LAUD AIRTEL RISING STARS

Former Arsenal captain Tony Adams has lauded the Airtel Rising Stars initiative and urged other corporate bodies to join in the programme to unearth rising football stars for Ghana.

Speaking at the official launch of the third season of the Airtel Rising Stars, he noted that coaches play a major part in developing football talents and if the facilities for training are ideal, Ghanaian coaches would also benefit. He said Ghana has been producing great players and the Airtel Rising Stars is another platform for nurturing future stars.

Philip Sowah, chief executive of Airtel Ghana urged the media to propagate the Rising Stars message for all Ghanaian youth to participate in the programme which starts from May 31 to June 2, 2013.

The zone two runs in Takoradi from June 14 to June 16, 2013 and the national event runs in Accra from July 11 to 14, 2013.

Emmanuel Gyimah, General Secretary of the Ghana Football Association (GFA) praised Airtel Ghana for supporting juvenile football and with the awareness that football has created, many youth must join to get the best players for Ghana. He stressed that the partnership with Airtel must be sustained.

Steve Mensah, a representative of the Ministry of Youth and Sports said the Ministry has focused on youth football development and will support the programme. He also called on other corporate businesses to join in supporting sports.

Ernest Kuffour of the National Juvenile Committee(NJC) of the GFA was of the opinion that the programme was useful and want players who they select to be made part of the national juvenile football team, the under 15 team. He called for funds to train coaches.

Former national stars, Nii Odartey Lamptey and Sammy Osei Kuffour were grateful to Airtel for sponsoring the Rising Stars initiative that has produced a star like Black Maidens player, Priscilla Okyere who was named one of the best players in the second edition of the programme.