Forty young footballers of Ghanaian heritage currently enrolled in top-tier academies across the United Kingdom participated in the maiden talent identification programme organised by the Ghana Football Association (GFA).
The initiative, conducted in collaboration with Coach Hene Sporting Club, Ghanaians in the UK and Prince Lamona Consult, forms part of efforts to identify, engage and nurture elite young talents who could strengthen Ghana’s national teams in the years ahead.
The programme brought together players aged between 15 and 20 from some of England’s leading Category One academies, including Chelsea FC, Everton FC, Manchester City FC and Arsenal FC.
Held in Bromley, the scouting exercise provided an opportunity for GFA officials and talent evaluators to assess the players’ technical abilities, development potential and eligibility for future national team involvement.
The initiative underscores the GFA’s growing commitment to tapping into the Ghanaian diaspora talent pool and building stronger pathways for young players of Ghanaian descent to represent the country at various levels of international football.
The exercise was overseen by GFA Technical Director Prof. Mintah and FIFA Talent Coach Stuart McLaren, alongside coaches The programme was closely monitored by representatives from Coach Hene Sporting Club, who identified and assessed standout performers throughout the talent identification exercise.
Founder of Coach Hene Sporting Club, Emmanuel Afranie, described the initiative as a significant step towards reconnecting young footballers of Ghanaian heritage with the country’s national teams.
According to him, the programme provides a valuable platform for talented players across the United Kingdom to showcase their abilities while strengthening their ties to Ghana.
“There is so much Ghanaian talent across the UK, and this initiative gives these young players the opportunity to connect with their roots while showcasing their abilities to the Ghana Football Association. This is only the beginning, and we believe the future is very bright,” he said.
Mr Afranie expressed confidence that the programme would help create a stronger pipeline of talented players for Ghana’s national teams while deepening engagement with the Ghanaian diaspora.
President of the Ghana Football Association, Kurt Okraku, also commended the partnership behind the initiative, describing it as an important investment in the future of Ghana football.
He highlighted the long-term value of identifying and nurturing talented players of Ghanaian descent abroad, noting that expanding the national talent pool remains a key part of the GFA’s vision for sustained success at all levels of the game.
“Our vision is to build strong national teams for the future by identifying the best Ghanaian talents wherever they may be in the world. Programmes like this are critical to strengthening our talent pipeline and creating opportunities for young players to represent Ghana at the highest level,” he stated.
GFA Technical Director Prof. Mintah also expressed satisfaction with the quality displayed during the exercise.
“The level of talent and professionalism we witnessed here was very encouraging. These young players are developing in some of the best academies in the world, and initiatives like this allow us to engage them early and monitor their progress closely,” Prof. Mintah noted.
Following the success of the opening event, the Ghana Football Association is expected to expand the initiative to include Category Two and Three academies, as well as grassroots football across the UK and other parts of the world in the coming months.