FIFA goal project officer meets minister

Mr. Sampon Kablan, Development officer of FIFA Goal Project, on Wednesday met with Mr. Edward Osei Kwaku, Minister of Youth and Sports to brief him on the FIFA goal project.

Mr. Kablan told the minister that the FIFA goal project is aimed at bridging the gap between the developed and the under developed nations so that every country can enjoy the game of football.

He said the project is also to help develop football worldwide, as the project would offer the country the opportunity to train coaches, referees, and football administrators and embark of youth development programmes in a cost effective manner.

Mr. Kablan said there is the need to embark on effective youth development programmes to prepare for the future as countries like Senegal, Mali, Ivory Coast, Burkina Faso are now benefiting from youth development programmes.

He advised the Ghana Football Association (GFA) to groom talents at early stages since this is the only way to achieve results in this era of modern football.

He called on stakeholders including the government to support the GFA in implementing the goal project.

In response, Mr. Osei-Kwaku expressed appreciation to FIFA for coming to the aid of Ghana football adding that in spite of the numerous achievements by Ghana in football and other sporting activities in the past, the nation still lags behind in sports infrastructure development.

He said the problem is due to lack of vision in the past but stated that the country is aiming at hosting the African Cup of Nations in 2008 and would therefore have to develop and improve all existing stadiums.

He said the government is making efforts to promote football by pumping billions of cedis into the game but has funding problems.

Mr. Osei-Kwaku called on the FIFA to allow the Ghana Football Association (GFA) have supervisory role on the project to ensure transparency.

The FIFA goal project is the initiative of FIFA president Sepp Blatter to give a 400,000 thousand US dollars grant to nations in need to help in the development of the game of football.