The MTN FA Cup quarter-finals delivered thrilling action as two Division One clubs and two Ghana Premier League sides secured spots in the final four.
However, beyond the intense competition, it was the young referees from the Ghana Football Association’s ‘Catch Them Young’ initiative who stole the spotlight.
Eight referees from the program were given the opportunity to officiate key matches, demonstrating their talent and potential on a big stage.
In Saturday’s encounter between Attram De Visser and Pac Academy, 16-year-old Angelous Akurugu Adonko took charge as the center referee, supported by Abraham Partey (Assistant I), Philip Amoh (Assistant II), and Theophilus Antwi Sekyi (Fourth Official).
Sunday’s clash between Karela United and Golden Kick FC saw Kingsford Oteng Yeboah as the center referee, assisted by Joseph Teye Awasasi, Haruna Yakubu, and Alex Amoabeng.
Referees manager Alex Kotei, who served as match commissioner for both fixtures, believes these young referees are only at the beginning of their journey.
“I’m not excited just yet because I want to see them officiate at the FIFA World Cup and AFCON. That will be the real moment of joy. Right now, we are focusing on developing them with integrity as a core value. Zero tolerance is key, and they must be pioneers of high-level integrity in officiating,” he told Akoma FM.
For Angelous Akurugu Adonko, a 16-year-old student of Navrongo Senior High School, officiating the quarter-final was a major step in his career. Inspired by legendary referee Pierluigi Collina, he reflected on how the experience has shaped his ambitions.
“This experience has helped me a lot, learning how to communicate with players, handle pressure, and build confidence on the field. I want to reach the highest level of officiating at the FIFA World Cup within the next five years,” Adonko stated.
Similarly, 20-year-old Kingford Oteng Yeboah, son of former referee Williams Owusu Achiaw, officiated the match between Karela United and Golden Kick FC. He spoke about the learning curve of being a young referee.
“The more games you officiate, the more experience you gain. At first, handling matches was different—sometimes I had to be firm, other times I needed a calmer approach. This competition alone has given me the experience of four matches, allowing me to identify mistakes and improve in future games,” Yeboah explained.
The ‘Catch Them Young’ refereeing program has proven to be a vital initiative in developing the next generation of top officials in Ghana. Its continued success is expected to have a lasting positive impact on the growth and integrity of football in the country.
