By Francis Kobena Tandoh
Kurt Okraku, president of the Ghana Football Association (GFA) said on Thursday the Association will pursue a comprehensive career youth development programme to create clearer pathways for talented young players from grassroots football to the professional level.
Addressing stakeholders at the 32nd Ordinary Congress of the Ghana Football Association at the Ghanaman Soccer Centre of Excellence in Prampram, Okraku stressed that investment in youth football is the foundation for securing the long-term future of Ghana football.
Under the power to the youth policy, the FA is to pursue a deliberate investment in young, talented footballers across the country.
“The future of Ghana football will not be secured by chance; it will be built through deliberate investment, sound policy, and unwavering commitment,” said the FA president.
According to Okraku, player development under the policy will follow a structured pathway spanning under-13, 15, 17, and 19, creating a more seamless progression for talented young footballers to advance through the different stages of their football education.
The approach is aimed at ensuring that promising players are identified early, developed systematically, and given competitive opportunities required to reach their full potential.
One of the components of the policy will be the introduction of an under-19 league, which the FA plans to pilot with affiliated professional clubs and accredited football academies in the West African country.
The introduction of the league system is intended to ensure a smooth transition from youth to senior football by providing young talents with regular, high-level competition within a player-centered development environment.
The GFA, Okraku further emphasized, will enforce its mandatory youth integration policy across the Ghana Premier League and Women’s Premier League, as well as the Division One and Two leagues. Enditem
Source: Ghana Eye Report
