Turf academy develops youth potential

Desirous of unearthing  the talents of children interested in cricket in their formative years, the Chief Executive of Turf Techniques, Mr Frank Kwesi Yao, has established a cricket academy at Achimota in Accra.

Established in August 2013 with only 25 children, and dubbed Turf Cricket Academy, it now has a total membership of 116 ,made up of 69 boys and 47 girls.

As part of the activities to mentor them to be more professional in their operations, and introduce competitive spirit among them , the benefactor has introduced a league that enables the young cricketers to compete among themselves on a weekly basis at the Achimota Cricket oval.

Briefing the Daily Graphic about their operations during an interview, Mr Yao said besides nurturing their potential in cricket, the members were also focused on their academic work.

“All the members attend school regularly with the view to building their capacity and acquiring the requisite skills that would make them more competitive on the job market,” he noted.

  He said it was for  this reason that he had been following their academic progression over the years with the view to motivating them to concentrate on their books as they nurtured and developed their potential in sports.

“Gradually streetism among the youth around Achimota and its environs is reducing, and many more are joining  the academy on a daily basis.They converge here each Saturday and compete among themselves with the view to developing their skills in cricket,” he explained.

 He mentioned Cal Bank, Brookmans Dons and Parlays Queens as the Cricket clubs nurturing the potential of the youth for them to acquire the skills that would turn them into national assets in future.