Posted by President of the Ghana Football Association (GFA), Kurt Edwin Simeon-Okraku has revealed that it’ll be mandatory for every Premier League club to own a Juvenile team, starting this year.
This intervention is one of the many policies that have been approved by the Executive Council to improve Juvenile (colts) football across the country.
President Kurt Edwin Simeon-Okraku made the announcement at the 29th ordinary session of congress at the Great Hall of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology on Monday, July 10, 2023.
As part of the intervention, the FA will support all eighteen Premier League clubs with a financial support of GH₵ 50,000 to establish their own youth teams.
In addition, clubs will earn an additional GH₵ 25,000 if at least two of their youth team players feature in more than 15 games in the course of the season.
“Each Ghana Premier League club is to be supported with GHC 50,000 for setting up a youth team. Clubs would also get 25,000 when two of their youth players feature in more than 15 games.” President Simeon-Okraku said.
President Kurt Edwin Simeon-Okraku also revealed that his outfit will invest $100,000 via FIFA forward to purchase footballs for juvenile clubs across country.
Furthermore, the FA will maintain its good relationship with Juvenile League sponsor KGL Foundation and will introduce the National Juvenile Awards to honor top performers.
The interventions from the FA aims to identify, scout and nurture and develop young players and provide them with the basic lessons in football.
Below are the interventions:
1. Investment of $100,000 via FIFA forward, to purchase footballs for Juvenile Clubs (Colts).
2. KGL to continue with sponsorship for next three years i.e. $600,000 in total.
3. GPL clubs to own and operate juvenile clubs (mandatory).
4. GPL clubs to earn GHc 50,000 each if a minimum of two U-17 Players play a minimum of 15 League Games per season in the GPL (Player must play a minimum of 15 games for its U-17 side too).
5. Colts sides of GPL teams to be registered as players in the GPL with the same registration so the U- 17 Player can play for both senior teams and U- 17 sides (screening by NJA/RFA)
6. National Juvenile Awards to honor top performers.
7. KGL support for regional leagues to continue for three more years (trophies, medals).
8. Each GPL club to receive GHc 50,000 to compete in District U-17 League of which the names of the sides must be : • Hearts U17 • Kotoko U-17 -Dreams U17
9. Provision of 18 buses to GPL Clubs to bus the Colts teams to games.
