The Ghana Football Association (GFA), on Tuesday, May 20, launched the fifth edition of the KGL Foundation Inter-regional U-17 Colts Championship.
The launch event took place at the Conference Room of the KGL House in Labone, Accra, with key stakeholders present. President Kurt Edwin Simeon-Okraku, Executive Council Members, and top officials of the KGL Foundation were all in attendance.
The initiative, which was first launched in 2021, has been the bedrock to unlocking young talents in Ghana and giving them the platform to display their potential.
Speaking at the launch on Tuesday, Mr Okraku lauded KGL for their continuous support towards the development of young talents.
Let me begin by offering the sincerest appreciation of the GFA to our committed and forward-looking partner—the KGL Foundation. For five consecutive years, the KGL Foundation has stood tall in support of youth football in Ghana. Through your unwavering sponsorship, you have not only fueled this prestigious tournament but also brought countless young dreams to life,” he said.
President Simeon-Okraku emphasized that the Foundation’s support goes beyond financial contributions. “Your investment is a bold statement of belief in Ghana’s future. The KGL Foundation has become the bedrock upon which the GFA has re-engineered Colts football and elevated talent identification across the country,” he added.
Since its inception in 2021, the Championship has significantly impacted Ghanaian youth football, serving as a critical platform for talent discovery. “Several of our current national U-17 players were unearthed through this very competition, including stars from our recent campaign at the WAFU Zone B U-17 Championship,” the President noted.
He also highlighted the visible legacy of the tournament: “From Colts’ fields to Premier League stadia, past participants are thriving at both national and club levels.”
Looking ahead, President Simeon-Okraku reiterated the GFA’s long-term vision as part of the broader Ghana Football DNA initiative. “We will continue to invest in systems that allow talent to grow, be scouted, and developed in line with Ghana’s football identity,” he said. He also thanked members of the media for their role in amplifying the Championship’s impact and urged them to continue telling the inspiring stories that emerge from the competition.
Speaking on behalf of the title sponsor, KGL Foundation Chief Executive Elliot Dadey underscored the Foundation’s mission to transform lives through sports.
“Since 2021, we’ve invested in kits, equipment, training and, more importantly, in a belief system. We’ve helped turn football into a viable path for these young boys to chase their dreams,” Dadey stated. “This project has become more than a tournament. It’s a movement grounded in community and passion, reflecting Ghanaian integrity and determination on the global stage.”
He added, “As we open the 5th edition, we must remember that by investing in these young players, we’re not just shaping athletes, we’re building a stronger, more vibrant Ghana for generations to come.”
The 5th edition kicks off in July, expectations are high that the tournament will once again spotlight the next generation of Ghanaian football talent, fueling dreams and propelling young stars onto the national and international stage.
