Ghana U17 invited for four-team tournament in Namibia this month

Published on: 03 April 2014
Ghana U17 invited for four-team tournament in Namibia this month
Ghana FA chief Nyantakyi will have to confirm whether they will play in the friendly

Ghana has been invited for a four-team tournament in Namibia this month to play against the hosts, South Africa and German visitors Westphalia.

The Black Starlets have been invited for the biennial Four Nation's Under-17 soccer tournament held during the Easter weekend at the coast returns again this year with the hosts Namibia up against South Africa, Ghana and regular visitors Westphalia.

The four-nation tournament will be held from 18 to 21 April at the Swakopmund Sports Complex and according to Tournament Director Roger Kambatuku, the gathering is aimed at exposing the teenagers to international football.

"This tournament is organised by Namibia every two years and we invite always invite Westphalia, while this time we have Ghana and South Africa coming as well. It will be a great chance for our new crop of Under-17 boys to test themselves against the best players from these three teams. It is not really about winning, but about the exposure and experience for the boys , while winning is always a valuable bonus, " he said.

Senior Sports Officer within the Ministry of Youth and Sports, Kambatuku said that the tournament was organised by the Ministry in conjunction with the Namibia Football Association (NFA) as part of the Namibia-Germany bilateral sports agreement.

The year after Namibia hosts the tournament, the national under-17 team travels to Westphalia, Germany for three weeks of international youth competitions.

Team Namibia team manager Jakes Amaning said the team would be reduced by Friday as they currently have over 30 players in camp.

"We have about 38 players undergoing trials and by the end of the week we will reduce the team to just over 20 players. We have the best players around and with Ghana's pedigree at international youth football, we are looking forward to an interesting tournament," Amaning said.

The Namibian team players were selected last year during the inaugural Skorpion Zinc U/17 Cup at Keetmanshoop, while the team is coached by renowned youth football coach Turipamue Upi.

Players who have nurtured their footballing talents through this project are individuals such as the reliable Orlando Pirates striker Terdius Uiseb, Africa Stars' new midfield general McBride Ndjavera, Tura Magic's uncompromising defender Innocent Tembo and teammate Salom Pamp.

Amazulu and Brave Warriors regulars Larry Horaeb, Sadney Urikhob and Petrus Shitembi also polished their skills through this project and so have African Stars' winger Eslin Kamuhanga, Tigers' lethal striker Benson Shilongo and Blue Waters midfielder Enrico Hoebeb, to mention just a few.

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