Adrobaa Roman Catholic School from the Ahafo Region has been crowned champions of the Milo U-13 Champions League, marking the return of one of Ghana’s most celebrated grassroots football tournaments after a six-year hiatus.

Speaking at the finals held at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) Paa Joe Park in Kumasi on Saturday, December 6, Nestlé Ghana Managing Director, Salomé Azevedo, praised the tournament for shaping young talent.

“We are thrilled to witness the young talents showcasing their skills today. The kids’ performance is truly impressive, and we hope to see this tournament continue annually without interruptions,” she said.

The 6th edition of the tournament, organised by Nestlé Ghana in collaboration with the Ghana Education Service and endorsed by the Ghana Football Association, brought together players aged 9 to 13 from across the country.

More than 100,000 schoolchildren from all 16 regions participated in the District, Zonal, and National phases, culminating in the final match between Adrobaa R/C and Franko International School from the Western North Region.

Adrobaa R/C emerged victorious, taking home a trophy, jerseys, training vests, medals, and GH¢50,000 to invest in sports development. Franko International School received a trophy, two sets of jerseys, a training vest, medals, and GH¢30,000, while St. Francis Preparatory School from the Bono Region claimed third place with medals and GH¢20,000.

Deborah Kwablah, Manager of Corporate Communication and Public Affairs at Nestlé Ghana, emphasised the importance of combining football with education.

“We want to see these young talents succeed both on and off the pitch,” she said, urging teachers and parents to ensure students continue their studies while pursuing football.

Tournament icon and former Ghana Black Stars captain Stephen Appiah encouraged the young players to embrace discipline, teamwork, and self-belief. He highlighted the tournament’s role in discovering stars such as Abdul Majeed Waris, Fatawu Issahaku, and Kelvin Nkrumah, and called for initiatives to nurture the next generation of Ghanaian football talent.

“The Milo U-13 Champions League is not just about winning matches; it’s about shaping dreams, building confidence, and instilling values like hard work, perseverance, and fair play,” Appiah said.

The return of the tournament after a COVID-19-induced hiatus reflects Ghana’s commitment to grassroots sports development, providing a platform for young footballers to hone their skills and potentially rise to national and international prominence.