Chosen Home Foundation Orphanage emerged victorious for the second consecutive year at the “Dawn of the Orphanages” Functional Fitness League Competition, held Saturday at Dansoman’s Zulka Astro Turf in Accra.
The event, organized by the Functional Sports League Ghana, saw four orphanages Chosen Home, Enough Grace, Great James Academy, and Shalom of Zion compete in a rigorous three-hour series of endurance, strength, and bodyweight drills.
Charles Owusu Ansah, president of the Functional Sports League Ghana, emphasized the competition’s dual goals of talent discovery and promoting fitness among youth. “We aim to showcase the potential of these children while grooming them for athletic development,” he said. Participants, primarily minors, underwent three weeks of training ahead of the event, with organizers noting marked improvements from the inaugural edition in 2024.
The winning team’s retention of their title underscores growing interest in functional fitness, a discipline introduced in Ghana in 2023. Ansah revealed plans to expand the initiative, starting with school-based programs before organizing a national championship for adults. He appealed to corporate sponsors to support scaling efforts, citing health benefits and opportunities for underserved youth.
All participants received trophies and prizes from sponsor Electroland Ghana, with organizers highlighting the children’s enthusiasm despite the physically demanding challenges. Ansah closed with gratitude for stakeholders, stating, “This event has again shown how collective effort can bring joy and purpose to these young lives.”
The competition reflects broader trends in Ghana’s sports development landscape, where grassroots initiatives increasingly target marginalized groups. By combining athletic rigor with social inclusion, programs like this seek to address both fitness gaps and societal perceptions of orphaned children.
As functional fitness gains global traction, Ghana’s focus on youth engagement positions it to cultivate homegrown talent while fostering community resilience through sport. Future editions aim to strengthen partnerships between sports bodies, charities, and private sector actors to sustain momentum.
