Accra, May 20, GNA - The Ghana Football Association (GFA) has announced new innovations with effect from the 2010/2011 soccer season as part of efforts towards developing the sport in the country.

The innovations to affect the Premier League and the lower leagues are geared towards reliving the downtrodden trend of the game in the country. Kwesi Nyantakyi, GFA President made these remarks at the Ordinary General Assembly of the Association held on Thursday in Accra. The GFA President stated that every Premier League Club would be expected to present an U-20 side for a reserve league which will be organized side-by-side with the main league matches.

Nyantakyi added that every Premier division club is supposed to have a training ground of its own or a park which they have the right of access and that each Club will also be required to contribute 5,000 US Dollars from its share of the sponsorship towards the organization of a National Juvenile Festival.

He emphasized that all Premier Division Clubs must comply with specific medical conditions and anti-doping before the start of the football season. The GFA President observed that the GFA will provide financial and technical support to the officials of the lower division leagues towards organizing successful competitions in their respective divisions. As part of efforts towards developing football at the grassroots level, he said the Association will procure 3,000 footballs for distribution among Colts Clubs across the country as well as organize coaching course for all juvenile coaches at no cost.

The GFA President reiterated that the National Juvenile Festival will come off with or without sponsors.

"We shall construct a pitch in each region to promote juvenile football. All Regional and national j uvenile champions will be given footballs, tracksuits and boots."

Nyantakyi also pledged his outfit's support for the development of coaching and women's football amongst others.

Ms Akua Sena Dansua, Minister of Youth and Sports urged members of the Congress to educate their fans to eschew violence at the various League centres to forestall the re-occurrence of any "May 9 Disaster." Congress is the legislative and supreme organ of the GFA and it is constituted by 123 members made up of the various stakeholders and representatives of the various Clubs in the country.