ACCRA, Aug. 20 (Xinhua) -- Ghana will pursue a structured youth development program to create clearer pathways for talented young players from grassroots football to the professional level, Football Association president Kurt Okraku said on Thursday.
Speaking at the 32nd ordinary congress of the Ghana Football Association (GFA) at Prampram, east of the Ghanaian capital Accra, Okraku stressed that investment in youth football is the foundation for securing the long-term future of Ghanaian football.
Under the power-to-the-youth policy, the GFA will make deliberate investments in young, talented footballers across the country.
According to Okraku, player development under the policy will follow a structured pathway spanning the under-13, under-15, under-17 and under-19 levels, creating a more seamless progression for talented young footballers through the different stages of their development.
The approach is aimed at ensuring that promising players are identified early, developed systematically and given the 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 GFA plans to pilot with affiliated professional clubs and accredited football academies in the West African country.
The introduction of the league is intended to ensure a smooth transition from youth to senior football by providing young players with regular, high-level competition within a player-centered development environment.
Okraku further emphasized that the GFA 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. ■