GFA launches youth programme at Nkoranza

Nkoranza (B/A) Nov 16, GNA - The Ghana Football Association (GFA) has launched a five-year development plan aimed at laying structures for junior players aged 15 to 20 years.

As part of the programme, football clubs are to be formed in the districts after which inter-district soccer competitions would be organized for the formation of a team for the region.

The regional teams would also compete and the best players would be selected to form the nucleus of the national team.

Mr. Kwasi Owusu, Brong-Ahafo Regional Coach and Co-ordinator for the development plan in the region disclosed this when he presented three footballs to the Nkoranza District Education Directorate for the organisation of the Nkoranza Football Club.

Mr. Owusu, a former captain of the Black Stars, who was popularly known as 'Power House' in his hey days, announced that under the programme, sports council offices would be opened in every district to ensure the promotion of all sporting activities.

The District Assemblies have therefore been charged to offer both financial and material support to enable the offices to carry out their activities effectively.

Mr. Owusu said GFA is also concerned with the promotion of women soccer and had begun presenting footballs to the well-organised female teams in the districts to enhance their activities. Mr. Jarvis R. Agyeman-Badu, Nkoranza District Director of Education who received the footballs on behalf of the education directorate and the District Assembly described the offer as 'good news' in the promotion of sports amongst the youth.

A sports enthusiast himself, the district director noted: "development in sports is part of a child's development" and said he would ensure that a very strong football team was formed in the district.

He called on sports teachers to encourage students to be active in sporting activities to make the education directorate's dream come true. The District Sports Organiser, Mr. Samuel Odame Bosompem, commended the GFA and the National Secretariat of the Sports Council (NSC) for encouraging the youth to take sports seriously to enhance their living standards. Mr. Bosompem promised to ensure that the footballs presented to the district were taken good care of.