Plan long-term with current youth teams – Fred Pappoe urges GFA

Former Ghana Football Association (GFA) Vice President, Fred Pappoe has called for a strategic, long-term approach to player development, urging authorities to focus on the country’s current U15 and U17 squads as the foundation for future senior national team success.

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Speaking with sporty FM, Pappoe dismissed suggestions that it may be too late for Ghana to properly plan its football future, insisting that immediate action can still yield results over time.

“There’s nothing like being too late,” he said, stressing on the need for proactive planning despite the challenges within Ghana’s football administration.

Pappoe acknowledged that administrators often find themselves firefighting pressing issues, leaving little room for reflection and structured planning.

However, he argued that taking time to build a sustainable system is not a luxury, but a necessity.

“We should look at the current under-17 squad and maybe the under-15 behind them as the guys we should be counting on in eight years’ time,” he explained.

He emphasized the importance of evaluating whether these players represent the best available talent, while also keeping the pipeline open for new prospects who can strengthen the system.

“You can even devote two or three coaches to them , from under-17, they can progress with them to under-20 and keep moving,” he noted.

PAH/JE