Ghana Football Association to develop juvenile football

Kumasi, April 28, GNA - The Ghana Football Association (GFA) would from next year commence the construction of a state-of-the-art stadium in all the regional capitals to promote colts' football.

The Association would also organize regular courses for colts' coaches to update their technical skills for efficient performance. Mr Kwesi Nyantakyi, President of the GFA said these forms part of measures to revive football at the juvenile level, which has been found to be collapsing due to poor organization, management and the lack of funds. He was addressing a stakeholders' forum organized by the GFA at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium in Kumasi on Tuesday. Juvenile football, which used to be vibrant in the 1980's and 90's has taken a nosedive in recent times, affecting the production of talented youth into stars for the nation.

Ghana won the 1991 and 1995 FIFA Under-17 World Cups and were also runners-up in the 1993 tournament because of prudent management and organization of the nation's juvenile football in those years. Celebrated national footballers like Abedi Pele Ayew, Opoku Nti, Stephen Appiah, Michael Essien and Emmanuel Osei Kuffour were all products of juvenile soccer.

Mr Nyantakyi said the GFA has also planned to re-introduce curtain raisers, a system which allows colts clubs to play at the stadium before international and League matches. The Association will in addition donate sets of track suit, jerseys and footballs to colts clubs that emerge champions in all the regions to motivate the players and club officials. Alhaji Karim Grusah, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of King Faisal FC and Ashanti Regional Chairman of the Juvenile Football Association, hailed the measures announced by the GFA and called on corporate bodies to invest in juvenile football. 28 April 10