GFA rolls out 5th edition of KGL U17 championship
The Ghana Football Association (GFA), in partnership with the KGL Foundation, officially launched the 5th edition of the prestigious KGL Foundation Inter-Regional U17 Colts Championship on Tuesday, May 20, 2025.
The ceremony, held at the KGL House in Labone, Accra, reaffirmed Ghana’s dedication to grassroots football development and talent discovery.
The well-attended event brought together top officials from the GFA, executives of the KGL Foundation, and other key stakeholders in youth football. In his keynote address, GFA President Kurt Edwin Simeon-Okraku extended heartfelt gratitude to the KGL Foundation for its unwavering support over the past five years.
“Let me begin by offering the sincerest appreciation of the GFA to our committed and forward-looking partner, the KGL Foundation,” he said. “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.”
President Simeon-Okraku emphasized that the Foundation’s support transcends financial aid.
“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 noted.
Since its inception in 2021, the Inter-Regional U17 Colts Championship has become a cornerstone of Ghana’s youth football development. The President highlighted that several current U-17 national team players were discovered through the tournament, including key figures from Ghana’s recent campaign at the WAFU Zone B U-17 Championship.
“From Colts’ fields to Premier League stadia, past participants are thriving at both national and club levels,” he said, underlining the tournament’s long-lasting impact.
Looking forward, President Simeon-Okraku reaffirmed the GFA’s commitment to embedding the Championship within the broader Ghana Football DNA strategy.
“We will continue to invest in systems that allow talent to grow, be scouted, and developed in alignment with Ghana’s football identity,” he said. He also thanked the media for their ongoing role in promoting the Championship and urged them to share the compelling stories of resilience, hope, and rising stars.
