Fish company to establish Soccer Academy in Navrongo

Tamale, Jan. 13, GNA - NEWCO a.p.i LTD, a commercial fish production company based at Navrongo in the Kassena Nankana District (KND) of the Upper East Region is to set up a Football Academy as part of its investments drive in the northern sector for harnessing the talents of the youth.

The Academy to be known as "NEWCO All Stars" would initially recruit young boys between the ages of 15 and below.

Mr Peter Schaeffers, Chief Executive Officer of the company told the GNA Sports in an interview that the company is to invest about 75,000 euros in the establishment of the academy and that the academy would be privately financed from Holland.

He said players who would to be recruited would be given scholarships to continue with their education so as to ensure that they do not drop out of school.

He said Mr Abuga Pele, Member of Parliament for Chiana/Paga would be the main technical adviser of the Academy who will co-ordinate and ensure that the right calibre of youth are recruited.

Mr Schaeffers said it is expected that within two years after its establishment, the Academy would produce players to compete for the top league clubs in Ghana.

The Chief Executive Officer said the future plans of the company is to assist the club to build its own school as well as other supporting facilities in the Upper East Region including a GYM for the use of Keep Fit clubs and other sports men and women for a token fee.

Mr Schaeffers said that the club would be affiliated to some of the top football clubs in Europe, who will be contracted for additional technical support.

He said plans were in place to obtain permission from the Ghana Football Association (GFA) before the club sets off in the first quarter of the year 2005.

Mr Schaeffers appealed to the youth who are interested to unravel their potential in the three Northern Regions in soccer to enrol with the club when it becomes operational and gave them the assurance for first class facilities.

He called for collaboration between the Academy, local authorities, District Assemblies, the Regional Co-ordinating Councils as well as the football loving people of the Northern Regions to make the venture a successful and fruitful enterprise for the benefit of the youth.