Coach of the Ghana U-20 national team, Desmond Offei, has commended Division Two League clubs for their competitiveness and talent development.
Offei recently led Ghana to qualify for the U-20 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) after finishing second to Nigeria in the WAFU B Championship, with eight of his players coming from Division Two clubs.
He expressed gratitude to the lower leagues and clubs, praising the scouting team for their efforts in identifying new talent. Offei as well highlighted the significance of tracking player progress in the lower divisions.
“I want to thank the Division Two League Clubs for their developmental drive. Eight of my players from the recently concluded U20 WAFU B U20 Championship in Togo came from the Second Division. This underscores the quality of talent spread across the country,” he stated on ghanafa.org.
“To assemble Division Two players and compete at the level they did is truly commendable and heartwarming.”
“Together with my team, we’ll continue to monitor the development and progress of players from the lower divisions. I wish all the participating teams the best of luck in this new season.”
Among the eight players is Jerry Afriyie, the Best Player and Golden Boot winner at the WAFU B U20 Championship, who plays for Thought FC.
Others include Mustapha Abu (African Talent), Dennis Appiah (Bectero FC), Dennis Marfo (Zelina FC), Alhassan Alhassan (Kaistrom FC), Prince Baladom (Benab FC), Desmond Tetteh (Tema United), and Hayford Adu-Boahen (Cheetah FC), who all participated in the Championship.
The Ghana Football Association has made significant investments in grassroots football, providing resources like free footballs, officiating fees, and infrastructure development.
These investments have produced impressive outcomes, with Division Two League players demonstrating their skills in regional and national competitions.
