Residents of the Tano North Constituency in the Ahafo Region have praised the Member of Parliament (MP), Dr Gideon Boako, for organising the maiden sporting scouting festival aimed at identifying and developing local talents.

The two-day event, held on Thursday and Friday, brought together teams from Duayaw-Nkwanta, Bomaa, Yamfo, Dwenase, Adrobaa, and other surrounding communities.

Participants competed in football, volleyball, and draughts, showcasing their skills and understanding of these disciplines for professional scouting opportunities.

The festival attracted experienced scouting agents, including David Obeng Nyarko, Sporting Director of Spartanii Sportul Football Club in Moldova; Charles Taylor, former Kumasi Asante Kotoko and Accra Hearts of Oak player; and Michael Diasso, a member of FSB, a football scouting agency based in Germany.

A parent, Adu Yeboah Junior, from Duayaw-Nkwanta, who presented his two Under-19 sons for scouting, expressed hope that his children would secure opportunities for professional development and thanked the MP for his vision.

Christian Gyabaah, a local coach based in Adrobaa, said he was optimistic that most of his players would be scouted, noting that seeing any of them play professional football would be a source of pride. He described Dr Boako’s commitment to grassroots sports development as unmatched.

A community leader from Yamfo, Opanin Adjei Yaw, who brought three players for the scouting exercise, also expressed gratitude to Dr Gideon Boako for his pledge to make the event an annual festival aimed at harnessing local talents.

Speaking at the event, David Obeng Nyarko stressed that sports, particularly football, have become a serious and thriving global business and should not be played merely for recreation.

He urged teachers, parents, and local coaches to equip young athletes with modern skills and techniques to complement their natural talents and formal education.

He commended the Tano North legislator for providing a platform that empowers coaches, teachers, parents, and teams in the constituency to showcase their hidden talents to the wider world.

Addressing participants, Dr Gideon Boako said his decision to organise the scouting festival was inspired by his personal experiences growing up in rural communities, where limited support existed for the development of children’s talents.

“As a native of the rural community of Bomaa, I had little academic support growing up. At a point, all hope seemed lost, and I relied on government scholarships and the support of individuals to complete my basic and secondary education,” he said.

He emphasised that young people in Tano North must not suffer the same fate, adding that God-given talents should not be left undeveloped.

Dr Boako disclosed that players selected by professional scouts would be attached to both local and international teams for further training and development, assuring residents that “Tano North will keep rising.”

“My vision is to see more future sports stars emerging from Tano North to play for Ghana and top teams across the world. Coming from a rural area must not be a hindrance,” he emphasised.

He further reiterated that as part of efforts to reform sports development in the constituency, a series of training workshops would be organised for local coaches across all sporting disciplines, as well as Physical Education (PE) teachers in schools, to enhance their technical skills and knowledge.

At the end of the competition, winners were awarded medals, trophies, and cash prizes, with Duayaw-Nkwanta FC emerging as champions and Bomaa Tigers finishing as runners-up.