Kurt Edwin Simeon-Okraku, President of the Ghana Football Association (GFA), emphasized the need for patience and substantial investment in the GFA's youth development strategy during his visit to the KGL Foundation Inter-Regional U17 Colts Championship.

The event took place at the Ghanaman Soccer Centre of Excellence in Prampram, where the President witnessed the impressive talent on display.

Expressing his admiration for the quality of young players and the performance of the "Catch Them Young" referees officiating the matches, Simeon-Okraku highlighted the importance of these intangible assets for the future of Ghanaian football.

"I'm very impressed with the quality of the intangible assets, which are the players. I have been super impressed with officiating right from the start up till now, and it can only get better; this, for me, is truly special.

I think that everybody who has been part of this story will be proud of where we are at the moment, investing in the youth, both in refereeing and in the development of football players," he said.

The GFA, supported by the KGL Foundation, has been implementing its youth development strategy over the past four years.

This effort has culminated in the ongoing talent identification championship. Additionally, the GFA recently concluded the Elite U15 Girls Championship with FIFA's support, held at the GFA's Technical Centre in Prampram.

"What we are going through today is part of our strategy for the development of football. We saw the U-15 girls, which is part of the Women’s Football Strategy we launched in 2022, and this is also part of the talent development scheme that we are currently embarking on with support from FIFA and, of course, with KGL," Simeon-Okraku noted.

He further stressed the importance of continuous investment and patience, saying, "If we want to produce the Anas Thunder’s and Mohammed Polo’s of yesteryear, this is the way to go.

I've always said that if we are patient and make the right levels of investment, Ghana football will definitely soar again."

Simeon-Okraku also praised the improved infrastructure and environment at the Ghanaman Soccer Centre of Excellence, which now feels like home to many young players.

He commended the leadership of the FA and the facility management for their hard work in transforming the center.

"The young girls and boys have spent days sleeping here, and it is a changed story.

I think that everybody who is seeing what we have done here will be proud of the hard work put in by the leadership of the FA and by the management of the facility. I'm so touched and very proud," he added.

The talent identification championship, now in its fourth year, continues to serve as a vital platform for discovering the next generation of football stars who will form the core of Ghana's youth national teams.