Soccer News of Tuesday, 14 January 2003

Source: GNA sports

Colts soccer holds holds Ghana’s future - Abedi

Takoradi (Western Region) - Abedi Ayew Pele, Chairman of the National Juvenal Association, on Sunday reiterated that colts soccer holds the key to Ghana's re-emergence on the international football scene.

He said fielding of over-aged players had been a major problem facing the various national teams. Pele, who was speaking to GNA sports in an interview at the 10th National Milo Colts Championship at Takoradi said the use of weighing scales to determine the age of players for the under 14, 17 and 20 are meant to reduce cheating.

He said the focus of the GFA to adopt a new youth policy, is to motivate and encourage more youth to be groomed for all national teams. Pele who expressed his satisfaction at the level of play and display of unrefined talents said Ghana, would re-emerge as a football giant in the next few years.

He called on all stakeholders to involve the youth in their development plans and cautioned that "any neglect would be detrimental to our development agenda".

Pele noted that though the use of weighing scales would encounter some problems, "all efforts must be made to make soccer a very fair and truthful game".

He called on residents in the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolis to visit any of the eight football centres to cheer the teams.