Over 300 footballers showed up for the National U 17 justify which hit the Ashanti Regional capital, Kumasi, on Sunday.
The exercise which took place at the Opoku Ware Senior High School saw many young footballers trooping to the center from Kumasi and its surrounding environs.
Twelve matches were played in all with each match lasting for thirty minutes.
Apart from players from the various Colts Clubs within the Kumasi Metro, most of the boys who showed up for the exercise came from places like Bekwai, Ejisu, Offinso, Mankranso, Kokoben and the other surrounding areas.
The exercise was the fifth region the technical team of the Black Starlets, led by Coach Paa Kwesi Fabin and his assistant Nuru … were conducting.
The team had earlier visited the Northern, Upper East, Upper West and the Brong Ahafo Regions before making a stop at Kumasi to continue with the exercise.
For the first time since the exercise started, the Management Committee Chairman of the Starlets Kweku Eyiah and his vice Samuel Opoku Nti were present at the center, ably assisted by the Regional Colts Chairman, Amidu Camarat.
Speaking to Ghanasoccernet.com after the first phase of the exercise, Coach Paa Kwesi Fabin lauded the zeal and enthusiasm of the boys who showed up.
“The exercise has been very encouraging with the numbers here being more than all the other regions. So far it is only the Brang Ahafo region that was able to give us eleven matches. But the numbers here has really been encouraging,” Fabin told GHANAsoccernet.com
“The standard of play too has not been bad and it gives hope that we have a great future in the young ones coming.”
Some of the players, however, were not allowed to take part in the exercise with the coaches explaining that they appeared older than the ages they presented.
The final phase of the exercise in the Region will come off on Monday at the same venue where the selected players will be engaged in a series of matches to select the final squad from the region.
By: Sheikh Tophic Sienu @desheikh1 on twitter