Airtel Rising Stars, the most authentic grassroot competition in the country kicked off last Saturday at the Sekondi Gyandu Park in the Western Region.
The best under -15 players from the Western and Central Regions did showcase great skills and talent with quality football and aggression all in attempt to secure a ticket to the national finals to be played in Sunyani later next month.
Western team B emerged as winners at the end of an epic all play all league standings gunning five (5) points after winning their first match and securing two points in their last two games to shrug off a stiff competition from Central Region’s Team A who amassed four points in all. T
he Western Region?s female team also won the female category after defeating Central Region by two unanswered goals to book a place in the national finals.
Addressing the ceremony, Chairman of the Central Regional Football Association, Mr. M.N.S. Doe representing the Ghana Football Association President, Mr. Kwasi Nyantakyie said ?we thank Airtel for coming on board to support the FA with resources to unearth talents at the school level to feed the national teams beginning with the national under17 team, the Black Starlets?. We believe that Airtel will continue to partner the GFA to have a national formula for continuity in our juvenile football with Ghanaman Soccer Centre of Excellence at Prampram in place?.
Stephen Turkson, a 15 year old striker of Central Region’s Team A and a graduate from Adumadze JHS was adjudged the overall best male player while the overall best female category also went to Fijai SHS first year student, Ernestina Ayisi of the Western Region team.
The Technical Director of the Ghana Football Association, Francis Oti Akenteng popularly known in the football fraternity as ?Onyameba? has been mandated by the soccer controlling body to be the technical overseer and scout of this year?s Airtel Rising Stars completion to identify special talents to feed the junior national teams.
In an interview, coach Oti Akenteng remarked that ?juvenile football still remains at the heart of the FA president and regards Airtel Rising Stars as the most important competition in the country. He also recounts it as a pillar in his policies that is why he entreated me to come and oversee this year?s event?. The president has instructed me to scout for talents from this competition to build the core of the national under 17 team Black Starlets, that is one of the main reason why I find myself here.
?I must say the level is good looking at their age. I have identified some few players that can be considered so let?s see who comes up as winners of this competition. We have seen great talents here in the Western and Central Regions as they have shown us that there is a future for Ghana football. Football fans should come in their numbers to support these boys and girls wherever the competition is being played in the country,? added Francis Oti Akenteng.
The Airtel Rising Stars competition moves to the Ashanti Region after Western Region where Konongo host the zone 3 comprising of teams from Ashanti and Eastern Regions look to secure their ticket to the finals in Sunyani later next month.
