Minister for Youth and Sports, Mustapha Ussif, has issued a clarion call to Ghanaians to throw their weight behind the senior national team the Black Stars as it begins the campaign for a 5th Afcon glory.
According to him, the wind of politics blowing through many aspects of Ghanaian lives has permeated into the cherished sport of football and divided the country even as the national teams are on the war front.
He pointed out that no nation can win battle or war without unity and tenacity of purpose hence the need to call for unity and support for the Black Stars and the other national teams.
Speaking to the media in Parliament on Tuesday, the Sports Minister averred that from 9th January to 9th February 2022, the Black Stars will pitch itself with the rest of Africa in the 2022 AFCON with the dream to end the country’s 40-year drought of the continental trophy.
He argued that since 2009 when Ghana hosted the AFCON, the Black Stars have come close to winning the trophy on many occasions.
He said, “The team made it to the semi-finals in 2008, qualified for the final in 2010 and lost to the winners, Egypt by a lone goal.”
“They made it to the semis again in 2012 and 2013, and got to the final again in 2015 and lost to Ivory Coast on penalties. In 2017, Ghana lost to Cameroon in the semi-finals.”
“It is quite obvious from the above that the Black Stars have always come so close to winning the trophy.”
Speaking on a Special Presidential Fundraising Campaign for the national teams, Hon. Mustapha Ussif disclosed that President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo had a meeting with corporate Ghana to raise about US$25 million to support the government’s funding of the teams.
Corporate Ghana, he said, has supported the campaign with US$2 million and urged those who have not yet fulfilled their pledges to do so.
According to the Minister, there is a direct relationship between corporate support and the excellent performance of the Black Stars and the other national teams.
“When Goldfields Ghana decided to invest in the national team, it reflected on output and the Black Stars qualified for Ghana’s maiden senior men’s FIFA World Cup in 2006.”
“Subsequently, support by other companies, including GNPC, resulted in excellent performances, including the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, where the Black Stars narrowly missed the semifinals,” he said.
He indicated that next year will be a busy period for the national teams with several major tournaments in sight.
“The AFCON in Cameroon as well as the FIFA World Cup in Qatar, U20 Women’s World Cup in Costa Rica, U17 Women’s World Cup in India, Qualifiers for the 2023 AFCON and Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.
“We want to make history as a country, and we can achieve this collectively as citizens and corporate citizens. A victory for our national teams is a victory for Ghana, not a particular group,” he added.
He appealed to corporate Ghana to come on board and support the national team, especially as the team seeks to make history again in 2022.
Source: Mypublisher24.com