Nestlé Ghana Limited has relaunched the Nestlé Under-13 (U-13) Champions League tournament after a six-year break.
The tournament, which has been the avenue for unearthing talents like Abdul Majeed Waris, Abdul Fatawu Issahaku, and Kelvin Nkrumah in the past, went on a break in 2019.
Managing Director of Nestlé Ghana Limited, Salomé Azevedo, expressed the company’s excitement to see the tournament back.
She said, “The MILO Under-13 Champions League is an exciting annual grassroots football tournament. The main goal of this tournament is to unearth talent among basic school students through sport, while also promoting essential skills such as teamwork, discipline, and a healthy lifestyle.”
She continued, “Over the years, this Champions League has successfully identified remarkable players, including notable talents like Abdul Majeed Waris (now retired), Abdul Fatawu and Kelvin Nkrumah, who are still making their mark in professional football on the international stage.”
Azevedo further stated that “Football is a universal language that brings people together. It has the incredible ability to reveal the inner qualities of players and nurture their talents, helping them grow into professionals in various fields of endeavour.”
She indicated that is through this belief in the transformative power of sports in shaping young lives that has spurred them to support to partner with the Ministry of Education, the Ghana Education Service, and the Ministry of Sports and Recreation for over 20 years to discover and nurture the talents of school children.
“We are thrilled about the future and look forward to uncovering even more stars in the years to come!” she concluded.
The Category Manager for Beverages and Dairy at Nestlé, Myron Otoo, explained that the Milo Under-13 Champions League has engaged over 100,000 schoolchildren annually across all regions of Ghana in previous years.
He explained that the tournament will unfold in three stages this year, at the District, Zonal, and National levels.
The top 16 schools from the zonal playoffs will advance to represent their regions in the national finals in the Ashanti Region.
Over 20,000 children are expected to participate in the finals, which will take place from December 3 to December 6.
Ghanaian football legend, Andre Dede Ayew, who is the icon for the tournament, described it as “a platform that has shaped dreams, discovered stars and built confidence in many young talents across Ghana.”
He urged the boys who will be playing in the tournament to seize their opportunity, noting that “Football has taken me on an incredible journey because I worked hard, stayed disciplined, listened to my coaches and believed in myself even when things became tough. I want each of you to carry these same values with you.”
He urged them to be confident and play with respect, teamwork and grit.
“Enjoy every moment, make friends, learn from your challenges and let your passion shine. No dream is too big. If you give your best every day, the world will open its doors for you,” he said encouragingly.
Let us make this year’s tournament a true celebration of talent, unity and the spirit of Ghanaian football.”
Legendary Black Stars captain Stephen Appiah, in a video message, advised young footballers to embrace discipline, teamwork, resilience, and respect both on and off the field of play.
These values, he said, had helped him climb to the top and achieve his career goals.
He also reminded them that “this tournament is a chance to showcase your talent, but more importantly, an opportunity to learn, grow, and develop as individuals.”
The Minister of Sports and Recreation, Kofi Adams, who also addressed the launch digitally, noted that football can only remain a sport if there is investment at the grassroots.
He commended Nestlé for its resilience, especially in its decision to revive the U-13 tournament in its new format.
He called on all coaches, scouts and technical people in the local game to pay attention to the upcoming tournament as it will be the breeding ground for talent development.
He also hinted at the support of the Ghana Football Association (GFA) for this year’s tournament.
