Massive investment in youth football vital — Kurt Okraku

The executive chairman of Dreams Football Club, Kurt Okraku, has called for massive investment in youth football to restore Ghana’s image and enable it to win more silverware at the international level.

Expressing concern about the dwindling fortunes of youth football in recent times during an interview with the Daily Graphic, Mr Okraku noted that “there is a need for a complete paradigm shift as to how we see the business of football in totality and especially football at the grassroot level”.

He said the situation where there were no pitches to nurture and develop talented players, no boots for training and even water to drink at the youth level was a huge challenge.

According to him, that explained why there was the need for a huge investment at that level, including direct cash and technical investment across the board.

“Our colts football has not been interesting as it used to be, just as it’s happening in Divisions two, three and four. Clearly, there is the need for us to have a clear plan and a clear vision for juvenile football”, he stressed

To Mr Okraku, massive investment by the government in football at the grassroots would not only improve standards but would also enable Ghana to regain her lost glory at the international level

“There is the need for massive investment in all categories of the game.

It will take a holistic programme and strategies to be able to bring the love for juvenile football back”, he noted.

“Clearly, there are challenges when it comes to youth football or grassroots football, hence the need for massive investment across the board in terms of training facilities, equipment, coaching and refereeing, among others”, he stressed.