The 2nd edition of the National Finals of the MILO Under 13 Champions League ended last Saturday with West Ridge International School from the Kasoa in the Central defeating OfinsoAmoawi from the Ashanti Region 4-3 on penalties to win the competition.

The three-day event which was heavily attended by some top management officials and staffs of Nestle Ghana Limited, the Ghana Education Service (GES), Ministries of Youth and Sports and Education, the Ghana Football Association (GFA), ex-Black Stars players, school children and some soccer fans.

Also, there were representatives of the Asantehene saw ten schools West Ridge International School-Central, (eventual winners) Bepong Methodist-Eastern region, Tordzinu Primary-Volta region, St. Philips- Western region, Fountain Gate Primary-Brong Ahafo region and Sakasaka Primary-Northern region.

Gani Presby Primary- Upper East, Jesus Cares for You Academy, Gt. Accra and Samatigu Primary–Upper West were all drawn from the ten regions of Ghana to battle for the bragging right of being MILO’s soccer Ambassadors for the year as well as taking home the whooping prize money of GHC 10,000, MILO products.

The MILO Champions League is flagship grass root soccer fiesta organized by Nestle Ghana Limited in collaboration with the Ghana Education Service and endorsed by the Ghana Football Association, to help the country scout for fresh and young talents across primary schools in the country while encouraging especially mothers to get their kids into sports because sports has a unique ability to help instil life values such as FOCUS, RESPECT, DISCIPLINE, RESPECT and TEAMWORK. These values the brand believes will go a long way in helpshape the lives of theseyoung talents both on and off field of play. 

In a post-match interview,the Business Executive Manager of Nestle Ghana Limited Mr. Russel Lipchen said, “The highlight of the event today is that every child that has participated in this year’s MILO® Champions League is walking away with something new since football teaches more than just a game”.

“We have managed an impact on the future generation of Ghana and that is the message we want to carry along and spread around Ghana”, Mr. Lipchen added. 

Stephen Appiah, a former captain of the Black Stars and the Icon for the tournament on his side said, he is overwhelmed by the level of soccer artistry exhibited by these young players. He congratulated all the participating schools for treating Ghanaians with such great soccer artistry and all called on Ghanaians to appreciate the effort of Nestle MILO®.

“Ghanaians should appreciate the effort of Nestle MILO® since they are helping the country produce a lot of football players to feed our local clubs as well as the national teams.” 

Issah Hussein from West Ridge International won the golden ball award with Desmond BoakyeGanihuFuseini from Amoawi Methodist Primary and Ernest Awuah from Bepong Methodist Primary winning the Silver and bronze balls respectively.

Gerald Nyabouri of Jesus cares For You Academy and Daniel Baako from Bepong Methodist also won the golden boot and golden gloves respectively. Jesus Cares for You Academywas also awarded the Fair Play award.

West Ridge International went home with an amount of GHC10,000, medals, certificates of participation as well as gifts from the sponsors. Amoawi Methodist Primary first runner up got GH¢3,000 silver medals certificates of participation and gifts from the brand while Bepong Methodist the second runner up also got GHC2000, bronze medals, certificates of participation, and gifts from the brand.

All other participants and their coaches also received gifts from Nestle MILO.

Both the Zonals and the National Finals competitions were preceded by soccer and coaching clinics for kids and coaches the participating schools and some non-participating schools. The clinics were facilitated by the Technical Directorate of the Ghana Football Association and Stephen Appiah, Icon for the tournament.