Second Vice Chairman of the National Juvenile Committee (NJC), Samuel Anim Addo, has called on the Technical Director, Professor Joseph Kwame Mintah to prioritize the mental health and emotional development of young footballers by appointing a dedicated psychologist for Ghana’s juvenile national teams.
Speaking at a strategic stakeholders meeting involving the NJC, the Technical Directorate, the National Teams Department, and juvenile national team coaches, Anim Addo emphasized the psychological demands placed on young players competing at the national level and the urgent need for professional support.
“These young boys and girls are representing Ghana at an early age, and the pressure on them is huge,” he noted.
“Beyond physical training and tactics, they need strong psychological support to help them cope with expectations, pressure, and transition.”
He added that providing a psychologist is not only essential for their mental well-being, but also a critical part of player development and long-term performance enhancement.
“If we want to build resilient players who can make it all the way to the senior national teams, we must start addressing their mental health needs now. A psychologist should be part of the technical team just like a coach or a physiotherapist,” Anim Addo emphasized.
His call aligns with modern football development trends globally, where sports psychology is increasingly seen as a pillar of elite athlete management, especially for youth athletes.
As the GFA continues its efforts to strengthen juvenile football structures across the country, Anim Addo’s proposal highlights a growing awareness of the holistic approach needed to nurture Ghana’s next generation of football stars.
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