Baby Jet U-16 African Football Tournament launched

Thirty-two teams will from June 6, 2023 compete for honours and hope to become the next big star or get scouted by the best clubs in Europe at the Cape Coast Stadium.

In a well patronized press conference for the Baby Jet U-16 African Football Tournament, stakeholders trooped in to the MultiChoice head office to set the ball rolling in hunt for talented footballers.

In attendance at the event were ex-Ghanaian footballers and members of the PFAG, with Agyeman Badu, John Paintsil and Antony Baffoe representing.

This year’s tournament takes a different twist from what has been a signature event organized by the Asamoah Gyan Foundation over the years to give a platform for youngsters to showcase their talent.

In the 32-team tournament, football academies from Togo, Nigeria, Benin, Ivory Coast and Burkina Faso will come down to Ghana to battle 22 other Ghana-based clubs at the Cape Coast Stadium.

According to Samuel Anim Addo, the games from the semifinals stage will be aired live on Supersport on DSTV Ghana.

In addition to the football competition, the program will offer mentorship and guidance to the young footballers, led by Asamoah Gyan, Africa’s all-time top scorer at the FIFA World Cup as well as other football icons.

The best players will be selected and will be coached by Asamoah Gyan for a year, where they will play several games to help hone their skills as well as give them opportunities to join elite clubs across the world.

The 2019 winners of the Baby Jet U-16 competition, Ofori Academy will also be representing in this year’s football gala in the capital of the Central Region.

Speaking to the media, former Black Stars and Sunderland striker, Asamoah Gyan could not hide his elation as the tournament draws closer.

Asamoah Gyan in his address said the main aim of the tournament is to first unearth talent, groom them and also give them the chance to be scouted by the best in the world.