The annual Baby Jet U16 African football tournament is scheduled to take place on June 6, 2023, at the Cape Coast Sports Stadium with 32 selected teams from Africa set to compete in it.
Originally planned for the first quarter of 2023, the rescheduled football talent discovery platform had to be moved to June due to organizational decisions to ensure the tournament meets its ultimate target.
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.
Since the inception of the Baby Jet U16 tournament, the championship has nurtured notable talents, including Mathew Anim Cudjoe (Dundee United), Emmanuel Yeboah (Club Cluj), Raymond Anokye Asante (Udinese), Emmanuel Mensah (Club Cluj), and many others.
All matches from the quarter-finals onward will be televised with multiple talent scouts slated to troop into Ghana to pick the best of the best.
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.
Speaking to Citi Sports, Samuel Anim Addo says this year’s tournament is to improve on what has been done over the years and deepen the understanding of football among the youngsters.
“This year’s competition is going to be an improvement of what we have been able to achieve in the past and also bring the legends to these youngsters to inspire them and learn closely from them as well. We expect this year’s competition to be fun, educative and the best will surely be awarded and to their own benefit, get scouted and give them a career uplift,” Anim Addo said.
