Kwesi Nyantakyi asserts: Developing youth: Essential for the future of our football

[caption id="attachment_1322292" align="alignnone" width="1080"] Kwesi Nyantakyi - Former GFA President[/caption]In 2006, FIFA implemented significant structural reforms to the governance of club football by introducing the Club Licensing System. Youth football was identified as one of the five essential thematic areas within this new framework. As a result, player development became the primary aim of all activities within the football value chain. The efforts of administrators, coaches, referees, sports psychologists, medical professionals, nutritionists, and other contributors are ultimately geared towards nurturing players. A well-trained player advances to proudly represent their nation at senior global, continental, regional, and zonal competitions. The path to achieving that level commences with youth development. Youth development is undoubtedly crucial for the future of our football. A vital element of this is the efficient management of football academies. Since the advent of organized football competitions on the Gold Coast, young talents have been groomed through the traditional colts system. Gifted youngsters received training on a non-residential basis, while school sports supplemented this developmental pathway. In Europe and the Americas, boys and girls typically balanced education with sports, as schools served as the main conduit for talent growth. Conversely, football in Ghana has, for many years, been mistakenly viewed as a profession for school dropouts. Research conducted in Europe and the Americas consistently indicates that players who pursued football alongside formal education tended to achieve greater success than those who left school prematurely. A prominent example was the Yugoslavian men's football team at the 1988 Olympic Games, which featured highly educated players, some of whom held Master's and PhD degrees. This served as a clear illustration that football was never intended solely for those who dropped out of school. Acknowledging this reality, the Ghana Football Association (GFA) established a strategic goal in its Business and Development Plan (2006-2010) that all players in Ghana's junior national teams should possess basic educational qualifications. This objective was fully met with the female national teams. In 2007, during the inauguration of FIFA's current headquarters in Zurich—the Home of FIFA—Ghana's school-based Under-14 Girls team clinched the gold medal at the inaugural FIFA Under-14 Six-Nation Invitational Tournament. Key members of that triumphant team included Edem Atovor, Elizabeth Addo, Florence Dadson, and Myles Mills, among others. The management team comprised Nana Benyin Eyison, Francis Oti Akenten, and Evelyn Nsiah Asare. The success of that Under-14 squad reinforced our commitment to integrating football development with formal education. This policy has yielded positive results for the female national teams, with Ghana's Girls under-17 national football team qualifying for every FIFA World Cup since 2010. The women's under-20 national team has matched that achievement since 2009. While we have not yet achieved the same success with the Black Queens, the strategy of merging football with formal education has proven largely successful for the female teams. The effectiveness of this policy with the female teams highlighted the necessity to establish comprehensive guidelines, rules, and regulations for the management of football academies in Ghana. Following the endorsement of the GFA Business and Development Plan (2011-2016), it became essential to implement the Rules and Regulations for the Management of Football Academies. This coincided with the swift expansion of football academies, spurred by the achievements of pioneering institutions such as Liberty Professionals, Feyenoord, Red Bull, now WAFA, and the Right to Dream Academies. These academies became integral to the GFA's youth development strategy. The primary licensing requirements included: 1. The establishment of age-group programs for Under-8, Under-11, Under-13, Under-15, and Under-17 players. 2. Recognition and licensing by the GFA based on adherence to established standards. 3. Mandatory provision of both football development programs and formal education. 4. Adequate infrastructure for football training and academic instruction. If an academy lacked educational facilities, formal arrangements had to be established with a nearby accredited educational institution. 5. Sufficient nutrition and feeding programs. 6. Medical facilities and healthcare provisions, including access to an ambulance. 7. Reliable transportation for players and officials during official and personal engagements. 8. Qualified technical and academic staff. 9. Certification and licensing only after inspection and approval by the GFA Technical Directorate. Ghana must take an interest in the curriculum provided by academies. For instance, Arsène Wenger's Four Foundational structure for youth development could serve as a standardized reference for all academies. FIFA’s technical director, Arsène Wenger, identifies four stages of youth development as: Techniques (ages 7-14); Physicality (ages 14-17); Tactics (ages 17-18); and Mindset (ages 18+). Regrettably, financial limitations have led many football academies to operate without fulfilling these licensing requirements. This situation is reminiscent of the challenges associated with illegal mining, commonly known as galamsey. It is an area that demands urgent attention, stricter regulation, and sustained investment if academies are to effectively serve as centers for talent identification and development. My close observations of the Right to Dream and Red Bull football academies provide ample evidence for increased investment in this sector. Before the academy regulations were enacted, the GFA initiated another significant youth development program. Every Premier League club was mandated to register at least fifteen Under-20 players and field an Under-20 team in a national youth league. These matches were played as curtain-raisers to Premier League fixtures. In addition to generating excitement and regular competition, the Under-20 League became an invaluable platform for scouting players for Ghana's national youth teams. The advantages quickly became evident. In 2007, local clubs contributed the majority of players in the Black Starlets squad that competed at the African Championship in Togo and the FIFA U-17 World Cup in South Korea. This included Saddick Adams, Daniel Opare (Ashantigold), Philip Boampong (Hearts of Oak), Joseph Addo (Aduana Stars), Richard Mpong (Medeama), Ransford Osei (Kessben), Robert Dabuo (Wa Allstars), among others. The successful Black Satellites team of 2009 was built upon this solid foundation. Key players included Daniel Adjei, Kassenu Ghandi (Liberty Professionals), Samuel Inkoom, Emmanuel Agyeman Badu (Asante Kotoko), David Addy, Bright Addae (Wa All Stars), Daniel Addo (King Faisal Babies), Jonathan Mensah (AshantiGold), and Ransford Osei (Kessben FC). By 2010, it was clear that many members of Ghana's FIFA Under-20 World Cup-winning team would transition to the Black Stars. In fact, eight players—Daniel Adjei, Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu, Samuel Inkoom, Jonathan Mensah, Opoku Agyeman, Rabiu Mohammed, Dominic Adiyiah, and André Ayew—had already become integral members of the senior national squad. The Under-20 League, in conjunction with other youth competitions, ensured Ghana's ongoing participation in both the African Youth Championship and the FIFA U-20 World Cup in 2013 and 2015, as well as the 2017 FIFA U-17 World Cup in India. Notable players who took part in the FIFA U-17 competition included Ibrahim Danlad, Gideon Mensah, Najeeb Yakubu, Edmun Arko-Mensah, Gabriel Leveh, Mohammed Kudus, Emmanuel Toku, Aminu Mohammed, Richard Danso, and Eric Ayiah. The 2013 U-20 squad featured Richard Ofori, Seidu Salifu (Wa All Stars), Richmond Nketiah (Medeama SC), Jeremiah Akorful, Derrick Mensah, Moses Odjer, Francis Narh (Tema Youth), Lawrence Lartey (AshantiGold), Ahmed Adams (Berekum Chelsea), Ebenezer Ofori (New Edubiase United), Michael Anaba (Asante Kotoko), Kwame Boahene, Kennedy Ashia, and Ebenezer Assifuah (Liberty Professionals). The 2015 U-20 squad included Kingsley Fobi (Right to Dream), Owusu Bempah (Hearts of Oak), Kofi Yeboah, Joseph Adjei (Wa All Stars), Patrick Asmah (BA United), Joseph Aidoo, Prosper Kassim, Patrick Kpozo (Inter Allies), and Asiedu Attobrah (New Edubiase United). Despite its undeniable success, the Under-20 League was ultimately discontinued due to the considerable financial strain it imposed on participating clubs. Maintaining youth teams effectively doubled operational costs through player recruitment, coaching, travel, accommodation, nutrition, medical care, and other logistical expenses. At one point, a delegation representing Premier League clubs and GHALCA met with the GFA/PLB and earnestly requested that the Under-20 League be separated from the Premier League program. In the absence of sustainable sponsorship, the competition was suspended the following football season. The time has come to reinstate the Under-20 League. Through meaningful collaboration among the Government, the GFA, GHALCA, clubs, and corporate sponsors, this vital competition can again become the driving force behind Ghana's football development. Youth football remains our most reliable strategic pathway to enduring success. If Ghana's national teams are to reclaim their place among Africa's and the world’s football elite, we must reaffirm our commitment to investing in structured youth development, quality education, well-regulated football academies, and competitive youth leagues. The future of our football hinges on the choices we make today. Source: Kwesi Nyantakyi - Former GFA President