KMA launches Youth and Sports Development Programme

In a bid to unearth football talents and revive youth football in the Kumasi Metropolis, the Kumasi Mayor, Hon. Osei Assibey Antwi recently officially launched the first ever Youth and Sports Development Programme in Kumasi.

The initiative, the brain child of the   Mayor and supported bythe Youth and Sport Sub-committee of the Assembly  seeks to revive local football through an aggressive and well-designed youth football policy.

The Sub- Committee comprised members such veteran football icons such Asante Kotoko General Manager, OpokuNtiand  OpokuAfriyie as co-opted members.

In attendance at the launching ceremony were Black Stars Coach, KwasiAppiah, the Board Chairman of the National Sports Authority (NSA), Mr. KwadwoBaahAgyemang, owners of colts clubs and pupils from first cycle institutions.

Speaking at the event, Mr. Assibey Antwi said programmes for other sporting disciplines including track and field events would soon be rolled out to give equal opportunity to those with other talents other than football.

He also said the exercise aimed at instilling discipline in the youth since without discipline the future of the youth would be bleak and it would affect the overall development of the country.

The Kumasi Mayor said the KMA had requested the Ministry of Youth and Sports to hand over the Osei Kwaku Sports Complex to it to be developed into hosting multi-discipline sports events.

Hon. Osei Assibey Antwi disclosed that the KMA had further requested the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) to help develop a concept paper towards the development of Ghana football targeting the youth and building capacities of local football administrators.

The Board Chairman of the National Sports Authority (NSA) ,KwadwoBaahAgyemang commended the KMA and said Assemblies initiative fits into the plans of the Ministry of Youth and Sports to develop a multi-purpose sports facilities in every community.

The Ashanti Regional Minister, Hon. Simon Osei-Mensah, who was present at the function urged parents not to discourage their children from pursuing football as a career but to combine it with education.