Sports
Bring back the love of juvenile football
The glittering moment of Ghana football has diminished drastically due to the neglect of the colt’s system.
Football loving fans do no longer patronize the game because they do not enjoy the most intriguing and entertaining skills of the typical Ghanaian game. All boils down to the fact that players do not mature in the game before getting to the bigger stage; the development structures no more exist.
Decades ago, grassroots football was superior and drew support from across the length and breadth of various communities. Seasoned community games were massive and true talents were discovered. The basic schools league was one avenue where talents were unearthed and groomed from the schools to zonal, district, regional and the national levels.
The inter-schools and colleges competitions organised for secondary schools and colleges, was also principal in the development of football in the country. The colt’s league which saw hundreds and thousands thronged to centres like Asem, Tafo, Suame, Ashiaman, Tema, etc, was a delight to watch.
Today, all these structures are left in limbo. Little or no attention is given to the juvenile structures which laid the foundation for Ghana football. School competitions are haphazardly organised; colt’s teams are dying out and football academies are struggling to survive.
In this modern era where football has become a profitable commodity as gold, many football fields that were used by some communities and colts teams have been turned to building sites.
The juvenile football which is popularly known as “Colts Football” was the main building blocks for football players from the 70s. Great talents like AbediAyew Pele, Stephen Appiah, AsamoahGyan, MichealEssien and many others, passed through the colts system to the world stage. Today, these names are household names, not only in Ghana but also, throughout the continent and across the globe.
The days of colt’s teams like Corners Babies, Anokye Stars, Great Falcons; Mighty Victory, Owareman, Dawu Youngsters, etc, are no more as strong as they used to be. They are lost in the mirrors of talent development.
Why should it be so? Have we as people and stakeholders of the game, considered why league matches are played in virtually empty stadia whilst sports betting and DSTV centres get choked with fans?
Player development structures have been strengthened across Europe. League clubs and non-league clubs have Academies or Centres of Excellence, and development scheme or community projects respectively. How many premier clubs in Ghana have academies or youth development system?
In Spain, the structures are such that, aside the clubs’ development, there is provincial and national structures at all levels of development (i.e. U10, U13, U15, U17, U19 and U21) with five players for each position. This is the reason why foreign clubs likeBarcelona, Real Madrid,Chelsea and Manchester United have amassed gargantuan fan base in Ghana than our own local clubs.
All stakeholders must put their hands on deck to revive the spirit of Ghana football through the juvenile development. The Ghana Football Association (GFA), the Ministry of Youth and Sports and National Sports Authority must engage in extensive deliberations and collaboration to find solid measures to mitigate the numerous challenges facing the juvenile sector.Training centres must be constructed across the country to ensure accessibility. Technical and professional training should be organised for colt club owners and coaches to enhance physical, psychological and technical development of players. Financial and motivational support should be facilitated to liberate juvenile clubs.
The Ministry of Education and the Ghana Education Service must ensure the teaching of Physical Education at all levels of education. It is said that “sound mind resides in sound body.” Schools must be adequately resourced to organize effective sports festivals to prepare athletes for the future.
Corporate entities and individuals should emulate the likes of McDan and Baby Jet Foundation to sponsor and organise juvenile sports competitions across the country. Media organisations must dedicate space in their airings to support the juvenile system.
For our national teams to bounce back to title winning ways, we must turn our attention to the juvenile development and give it the necessary support and love it deserves. Let us bring back the love of juvenile football. –The writer is a student of GIJ
Source: Ghanaian Times
A little over six weeks ago, everything pointed to a Medeama SC coronation as 2025/26 Ghana Premier League (GPL) champions at the end of the season.
That sounds premature, considering the fact that there were close to about 15 matches before the curtain was drawn on the competition.
However, believers of that assumption were right with that call due to Medeama’s form and doughty-character.
Medeama has been fearless this season. They have been ruthless, sharp, composed and a very formidable opposition, dealing with what their opponents throw at them.
In fact, establishing a 17-game unbeaten run speaks volumes of the quality Medeama has shown this season.
Two people have been key in this transformational story – Coach Ibrahim Tanko and playmaker, Salim Adams.
As of Week 21, Medeama SC opened a yawning seven-point gap with 43 points, leading Aduana FC, Hearts of Oak and Gold Stars, all with 36 points without any indication of slowing down.
But the story has completely changed just four matches after, with Medeama currently occupying the top spot with a slim one point.
Worse of all is the failure to record a win in their last five games in the competition, surviving at the top with unfavourable results of their closest competitors.
That winless run has seen Medeama drawn in three games against Samartex FC, Aduana FC and Swedru All Blacks, and lost to Nations FC and Hohoe United.
The nature of the defeat to Hohoe United generated controversy among those who won’t accept that a penalty miss and an erratic clearance by goalkeeper Felix Kyei that gifted the Voltarians the winning goal were genuine errors.
Their recent falters should have been pleasant opportunities for second-placed Gold Stars, and Hearts of Oak to capture reins at the top, but strangely, they suffered challenges of their own; leaving Medeama hanging at the top.
These dynamics are beginning to paint a positive picture for the competition as clubs at the top fight for more points to take pole positions, wrest with strugglers who are also battling hard for survival.
Outside of the top three, with chances of assuming the top spot if the Medeama form does not see any improvement, are Karela United and Asante Kotoko.
Despite their struggles, they have an outside chance of joining the battle at the top with nine matches to go.
At this stage of the competition, the pressure will be on Coach Ibrahim Tanko and his Medeama charges. Having ‘bottled’ a seven-point gap to a single point, it is surely theirs to lose.
Tanko, in previous interviews, has parried questions over the pressure on him and the team, but their current predicament leaves much to be desired.
The next two months would witness intense battle at both ends of the table with as many as five clubs having reason to contest for the ultimate, with about the same number set for the late drama to escape the last two slots to join Eleven Wonders, who are the surest bet for demotion.
By Andrew Nortey
Join our WhatsApp Channel now!
https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VbBElzjInlqHhl1aTU27
A step closer to glory awaits six Ghana Premier League (GPL) club sides and two Division One clubs as they battle for spots at the semi-finals stage of the 2025-26 MTN FA Cup this weekend at the Cape Coast Stadium and the Nana Fosu Gyeabour Park in Bechem.
Dreams FC, the 2022-2023 champions, will clash with Heart of Lions in the quarter-finals at the Cape Coast Stadium tomorrow at pm.
Heart of Lions are going through a difficult spell in the league, having lost ground on their title aspirations that started brightly.
Dreams FC thrashed Lions 3-0 in the reverse fixture of the GPL game in January after losing 1-0 in the first round tie, and tomorrow’s game comes in to settle the scores between the two sides this season.
Although struggling, Lions lie two places above Dreams’ 12th position on the league log and will look to take that inspiration into the game.
The day’s other game will see two-time champions Medeama SC battle Access Bank Division One League (DOL) Zone Three side Attram De Visser at the same venue at 7pm.
The GPL leaders Medeama SC are in the chase for a double this season and will chase a win to appease their fans.
After defeating Asante Kotoko 4-2 on penalties in the Round of 16, Aduana FC will seek to account for Access Bank DOL Zone One B campaigners, Techiman Liberty Youth, today.
Aduana FC are in the hunt for a double this season as they are currently third on the GPL table, trailing leaders Medeama SC with five points.
Having been decisive in matches against Nsuatre FC, Victory Club Warriors and Real Tamale United to get this far, the best in the annals of the club’s history, coach Ezekiel Nii Yeboah of Liberty Youth would be out to cause an upset.
At the Nana Fosu Gyeabour Park in Bechem tomorrow, another interesting pairing is set to play out as the all-Premier League affair between Nations FC and Berekum Chelsea takes centre stage.
By Raymond Ackumey
