By Kwame Bediako
The Minister for Sports and Recreation and Member of Parliament for Buem, Kofi Iddie Adams, has leveraged the power of sport to promote community development with the successful organisation of the maiden Kofi Adams Foundation (KAF) Community Football Championship, held as a flagship sporting component of the Buem Experience Festival.
The competition, designed to provide both entertainment and opportunity for young footballers, drew large crowds and strong participation from communities across the constituency.
After intense zonal preliminaries involving eight zones from 10 December 2025, the final phase of the championship was held on 1 January 2026 at New Ayoma and 2 January 2026 at Jasico Park, both recording capacity crowds.
Bodada Zone emerged champions of the inaugural edition, with Nsuta Zone and Kute Zone finishing second and third, respectively.
Observers noted the high level of discipline, fair play, and quality football on display throughout the tournament.
A major spotlight of the event was its role as a scouting platform, with seven standout players identified and shortlisted by a team of technical experts and scouts.
Among them were Black Stars assistant coach and founder of John Paintsil Football Club, John Paintsil, and Alexander Jovic, head coach and talent scout at Kenpong Academy.
The selected players are now being lined up for development opportunities, trials, and possible academy placements, underlining the championship’s growing reputation as a credible pathway for aspiring talents.
The championship also attracted several influential figures in Ghana’s sports and governance space, further boosting its profile and credibility.
Dignitaries present included Dr. Fred Awaah, Board Chairman of the National Sports Authority; Lawyer Richard Akpokavie, President of the Ghana Olympic Committee; Mr. Park Davies, MCE for Jasikan; as well as ex-Black Stars forward Baffour Gyan, Sammy Anim Addo, and Charles Osei Asibey.
They all commended Kofi Adams for his vision, leadership, and sustained commitment to grassroots sports development in Buem and beyond.
