The Ghana Football Association (GFA), in partnership with the KGL Foundation, officially launched the 5th edition of the prestigious KGL Foundation Inter-Regional U17 Colts Championship on Tuesday, May 20, 2025.
The ceremony, held at the KGL House in Labone, Accra, reaffirmed Ghana’s dedication to grassroots football development and talent discovery.
The well-attended event brought together top officials from the GFA, executives of the KGL Foundation, and other key stakeholders in youth football. In his keynote address, GFA President Kurt Edwin Simeon-Okraku extended heartfelt gratitude to the KGL Foundation for its unwavering support over the past five years.
“Let me begin by offering the sincerest appreciation of the GFA to our committed and forward-looking partner—the KGL Foundation,” he said. “For five consecutive years, the KGL Foundation has stood tall in support of youth football in Ghana. Through your unwavering sponsorship, you have not only fueled this prestigious tournament but also brought countless young dreams to life.”
President Simeon-Okraku emphasized that the Foundation’s support transcends financial aid. “Your investment is a bold statement of belief in Ghana’s future. The KGL Foundation has become the bedrock upon which the GFA has re-engineered Colts football and elevated talent identification across the country,” he noted.
Since its inception in 2021, the Inter-Regional U17 Colts Championship has become a cornerstone of Ghana’s youth football development. The President highlighted that several current U-17 national team players were discovered through the tournament, including key figures from Ghana’s recent campaign at the WAFU Zone B U-17 Championship.
“From Colts’ fields to Premier League stadia, past participants are thriving at both national and club levels,” he said, underlining the tournament’s long-lasting impact.
Looking forward, President Simeon-Okraku reaffirmed the GFA’s commitment to embedding the Championship within the broader Ghana Football DNA strategy. “We will continue to invest in systems that allow talent to grow, be scouted, and developed in alignment with Ghana’s football identity,” he said. He also thanked the media for their ongoing role in promoting the Championship and urged them to share the compelling stories of resilience, hope, and rising stars.
Representing the title sponsor, Chief Executive of the KGL Foundation, Elliot Dadey, spoke about the Foundation’s broader mission of youth empowerment through sport.
“Since 2021, we’ve invested in kits, equipment, training and, more importantly, in a belief system. We’ve helped turn football into a viable path for these young boys to chase their dreams,” Dadey remarked. “This project has become more than a tournament—it’s a movement, grounded in community and passion, and a living reflection of Ghanaian integrity and determination.”
“As we open the 5th edition, we must remember that by investing in these young players, we’re not just shaping athletes—we’re building a stronger, more vibrant Ghana for generations to come,” he added.
For the 2025 edition, each of the 10 participating football regions will receive fifty footballs, two sets of cones, two sets of bibs, and two sets of match jerseys, all sponsored by the KGL Foundation. In line with the GFA’s Catch Them Young Policy, the tournament will be officiated by young, trained referees, further reinforcing the developmental framework that underpins the competition.
Launched in 2021, the Inter-Regional U17 Colts Championship has emerged as a premier youth competition fostering regional cohesion and nurturing young footballing talent. The Ashanti Region made history by winning the tournament in 2023, while the Western Region enters the 2025 edition as defending champions, following their 2-1 victory over the Eastern Region in last year’s final at the Ghanaman Soccer Centre of Excellence in Prampram.
This year’s tournament will retain its established format, with each of the 10 football regions represented by a team selected from their respective colts competitions. The 5th edition is scheduled to kick off in July 2025.
Among the dignitaries present at the launch were Executive Council members Samuel Aboabire and Nana Sarfo Oduro, who also serves as Chairman of the Colts Championship and First Vice Chairman of the National Juvenile Committee. Also in attendance were NJC members JoeSalam Abubakar and Samuel Anim Addo.
As excitement builds for the 2025 edition, there is renewed optimism that the Championship will once again uncover the next generation of Ghanaian football stars—fueling dreams, unearthing talent, and reinforcing Ghana’s rich footballing tradition.
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