Premier division players can't play for Black Starlets

Accra (Greater Accra) - The Ghana Football Association (GFA) says it is preparing a regulation that would bar premier division players from featuring for the national Under - 17 side, the Black Starlets.

A source close to the GFA told "Times Sports" in Accra over the weekend, that the decision taken by the executive council of the FA is aimed checking the falsification of age of players featuring in the premier competition.

When passed, the regulation would render it ineligible for young players to transfer overseas for foreign contracts, especially members of the Black Starlets until they attain the required age.

It would be recalled that the Nigerian Football Association (NFA), about a fortnight ago, debarred members of their under-17 national side, the Golden Eagles, from featuring for the professional division one clubs.

Meanwhile, the selection of players into the Black Starlets will start next month with the hosting of a colts tournament at Sunyani.

Selected players would then be moved to Winneba to prepare for an opening Africa U-17 championship qualifier against Sierra Leone. As part of the FA,s innovation, coaches Sulley Mohammed, coach of the Gomoa - Feteh - based soccer academy, Feyernood and Sly Tetteh of Liberty Professionals fame have been appointed to handle the Starlets.

"I guess it's about time we gave our young coaches the opportunity, especially in view of the huge gap between our experienced trainers and younger counterparts", Times Sports quoted the source to have said.