Wa to host National Juvenile Festival on Aug. 20

Accra, Aug. 17, GNA - The Ghana Football Association (GFA) has announced that this year's edition of the National Juvenile Sports Festival will take place from August 20 to August 30 in Wa in the Upper West Region.

The competition which will draw participation from juvenile (Colts) clubs across the country will be held specifically at the football pitch of the Wa Senior High School.

Kwesi Nyantakyi President of the GFA who announced this during the launch of the competition in Accra on Tuesday, described the 10-day event as the flagship of juvenile activities in the country.

He said the GFA is funding the entire competition to the tune of about 200,000 Ghana Cedis with a total of 12 teams each vying for honours in the Under-12 and Under-15 categories.

Nyantakyi said the Association's decision to sponsor the competition stems from their commitment to the development of football at the grassroots level.

Funding, he noted had over the years served as the major stumbling block for organization of the annual competition, but reiterated that his outfit is committed to the unearthing of football talents at the primary stage.

The GFA President stated that with effect from next year, the format of the competition will take a new twist of the club-based style, to that of every region presenting a team, out of which the best players will be selected to form the nucleus of the junior national teams.

Henry Aryee, Chairman of the National Juvenile Committee commended the GFA for coming to the aid of the competition by providing the needed funds for the organization of the tournament.

The competition was not held in 2008 due to inadequate sponsorship, whilst GFA footed the bill for the 2006 edition, Nestle Ghana Limited sponsored the 2007 event and Coca-Cola Bottling Company, in 2009.

Only the Greater Accra and Ashanti Regions will be presenting two teams each for both age categories.

The participating teams for the U-12 category are Obuasi Ato Plans and Effiduase Aston Villa (Ashanti), Teshie Zinaps FC and Madina Manchester (Greater Accra), Message Stars (Brong Ahafo), Paa Badu Stars (Central), Krobo Youth (Eastern), Great Eagles (Northern), Bolga Fire Babies (Upper East), All Stars Babies (Upper West), Great Dynamos (Volta) and Tarkwa Barcelona (Western).

For the U-15, the participating Clubs are Anokye Stars and Georgia FC (Ashanti), Bubiashie Future Stars and Great Palmers (Greater Accra), Oguaa United (Central), Raja Casablanca (Brong Ahafo), Great Wonders (Eastern), Tamale Shooting Stars (Northern), All Stars Babies (Upper West), Great Dynamos (Volta) and Bogoso Ankara FC (Western).