Kumasi to host FIFA Grassroot programme

Football's world governing FIFA has chosen Ghana as one of the venues to host the FIFA Grassroots programme in June

The programme, aimed at helping to develop the game at the grassroots level, will be held in Kumasi from 22-24 June, 2012.


The programme to be coordinated by Mr Francis Oti Akenteng ,the technical director of the Ghana Football Association, will see 100 children chosen from the schools in Kumasi to take part.


The programme, which will be directed by FIFA officials, is the first of its kind to be held in Ghana though it has taken place in some African countries already.


The FIFA Grassroots programme places at its core, an emphasis on the notion of both education and fun for the children.

FIFA’s grassroots football programme targets boys and girls aged 6-12 years through school, community and club initiatives. The key concept of the programme is to bring together as many people as possible through football. The grassroots programme advocates exchanges and sharing human values and, of course, promotes the pleasure of practising our marvellous sport. For some people, grassroots football is a focus for recreational activities, while for others it is the organised practice of the sport, with training and matches, within a school or club framework. Of course not all young players will become the stars of the future and they do not all have the skills required to become professional players.


So intensive training sessions and complicated tactics are not appropriate.


It also and promotes mass participation and inclusivity; everyone has the right to play regardless of gender, age, skills, race, social origin and religion.