GFA gets tough on amendments of player’s ages
President of the Ghana Football Association, (GFA) Kwesi Nyantakyi has announced measures to curb the amendment of ages of players in the local leagues.
Nyantakyi said Club officials in a desperate attempt to land call-ups to the national junior teams for their players, scheme-up with them to alter their ages after registration.
“We won’t accept the amendment of the age of players again and we (Club officials) must stop it.”
Nyantakyi in his address at the Association’s Extraordinary Congress on Wednesday expressed worry at the disturbing rate of the amendment of ages of players.
It is an open secret that some players and Club officials amend the ages of players to gain call-ups into the national junior teams, Black Starlets and Black Satellites; but the GFA boss said this practise will soon be history.
The GFA President said his outfit will insist on National Identification Cards of players during registration in the ensuing seasons to help curb the matter.
“We will soon use the national ID cards for player registration. With that no player can alter his age as his details are documented.”
Nyantakyi added that the GFA in its quest to develop football at the grassroots level initiated the Reserve League which takes effect from the 2010/2011 soccer season.
The Reserve League, according to the GFA President will serve as a reservoir of talents for the selection of players into the national junior teams.
The League, which will run concurrently with the Premier League, is meant for players below 20-years, but Clubs are obliged to field at least three overage players for each game.
The 16 Premier Clubs based on their geographical locations were housed into two sectors made up of the Southern and Northern Zones.
Ashantigold, Heart of Lions, Hearts of Oak, Liberty Professionals, Medeama SC, New Edubiase, Tudu Mighty Jets and Dwarfs make up the Southern Zone; whilst defending League champions Aduana Stars, Asante Kotoko, Berekum Arsenal, Berekum Chelsea, Brong Ahafo Stars, King Faisal, Real Tamale United and Wa All Stars constitute the Northern Zone.
Source: GNA