Cheetah FC’s president, Abdul-Hayye Yartey, has called on the newly formed GFA ad hoc Committees by the FIFA Normalization Committee to focus on the development of youth football if the nation’s strong football credentials are to be sustained.
According to the second division owner, as part of his 10-year celebrations believes Ghana has a record of producing quality footballers who came through the youth system which his club has also contributed very good players for both local and European clubs and the Ghana National Teams (Starlets), (Satellites) as well as the senior team, (Black Stars).
Notable among these players are New Castle United’s Christian Atsu who is now a key feature for the senior nation men’s football team, Black Stars.
Alhassan Wakaso, Mohammed Iddriss and his national under-17 colleague Emmanuel Toku and Ernest Ohemeng are but a few of the players that the Kasoa based side has produced in its ten years of short but illustrious existence.
Speaking to Starr Sports during his 10-year celebrations game against Liberty Professionals on Wednesday which his side was piped, took the opportunity to address the importance of youth football in the country.
“Ghana started very well at the youth level. Every football nation if you want to measure the development of football, you have to look at the youth development aspect of it.
“Black Stars players can be invited from all parts of the world to have a senior national team but the grass root forms the foundation of every soccer nation, so, if we are not getting that right, then the future of football might not go well.
“My side lost by 0-1 to Liberty but the biggest pitch in Kasoa is still ‘Sakora’ look at so if government can develop this you will see the number talents which will come from here”, Yartey added.
Ghana’s last success in a youth competition came in 2009 when the Black Satellites then led by Swansea star Dede Ayew clinched the FIFA Youth Championship in Egypt. The 2009 gold winning team produced stars including Emmanuel Agyeman – Badu, Rabiu Mohammed, Jonathan Mensah and others who are now playing for the senior national team.
Source:Starr Sports
