GFA and KGL Foundation launch sixth U-17 Inter-Regions Championship in Accra
Accra, Ghana — The Ghana Football Association (GFA) and KGL Foundation have officially launched the 2026 KGL Foundation Inter-Regional U-17 Colts Championship, renewing their partnership to develop the next generation of Ghanaian football talent.
The sixth edition of the tournament was launched on Friday, October 3, at KGL House in Labone, Accra, bringing together officials of the GFA, KGL Foundation and other stakeholders in Ghana’s youth football development.
The competition will feature some of the country’s most promising Under-17 players, selected from Ghana’s 10 Regional Football Associations, alongside two GFA Elite Academies representing BIG Boss and Prempeh College.
The tournament is scheduled to run from October 3 to 10, with teams arriving on October 3 and taking part in FIFA Safeguarding orientations before matches begin on October 4.
Speaking at the launch, GFA President Kurt Edwin Simeon-Okraku described the partnership with the KGL Foundation as an important part of Ghana’s efforts to identify and nurture young footballers.
“We are here to reaffirm the marriage between the Ghana Football Association and the KGL Foundation,” Simeon-Okraku said.
He noted that the partnership had already helped produce players who have gone on to represent domestic clubs and Ghana’s youth national teams.
“Over a six-year tenure, we have produced amazing talents not only for local clubs but also for our various youth national teams,” he said.
“Today, I am proud to say that a lot of the products from these championships have represented Ghana at the U-17 level on the international stage, courtesy of the KGL Foundation.”
As part of its continued support, the KGL Foundation announced a $200,000 commitment over the next two years to support juvenile football development through its partnership with the GFA.
The foundation will also provide each participating team with 60 kits, comprising 30 home jerseys and 30 away jerseys. Teams will additionally receive footballs, bibs and cones to support their participation and training.
Beyond football, the 2026 championship will also have an educational component, with KGL Foundation set to provide scholarships to some of the standout players from the competition.
The initiative reflects an approach that combines sporting development with educational opportunities for young athletes, while giving emerging players a platform to compete, gain exposure and attract the attention of coaches and talent scouts.
GFA President Kurt Edwin Simeon-Okraku, members of the GFA Executive Council and senior officials of the KGL Foundation attended the launch.
With representatives from across Ghana’s regions converging in Accra, the championship is expected to provide another opportunity for young footballers to demonstrate their abilities while strengthening the country’s long-term youth development structure.
For Ghana, where youth football has historically played an important role in producing players for the senior national team and professional clubs, the tournament offers a pathway from regional competition to higher levels of the game.
The 2026 edition will conclude on October 10, following a week of competition aimed at identifying and developing the next generation of Ghanaian football talent.