By Evans Worlanyo Ameamu
Keta (VR) Oct 18, GNA-The national male beach soccer team the Black Sharks have left the shores of the country to Egypt for the upcoming Beach Soccer African Cup of Nations (AFCON), which was scheduled to commence on Saturday, October 19 and would end on October 26.
The continental showpiece is expected to be competed between eight countries, which would be housed in two groups.
Mr. Julius Ceasar Bekley, the Assistant Coach of the team, in an interview with GNA Sports, stated that the team was poised to raise the flags of Ghana High.
“We have prepared adequately for the tournament, we played four different friendly matches with different beach soccer clubs here in Keta, winning three and losing one and l think we have identified some techniques for the AFCON,” he stated.
He said 12 players out of the 17 who were called for camping were selected to represent the nation in the tournament according to regulations and requirements by the Confederation of African Football (CAF).
He said the players selected include two goalkeepers; Daniel Kudodah and Robert Nyadedzor of Cheetah Beach Soccer Club and Sea Sharks respectively.
“The defenders include Precious Torgboof Havedzi, Mighty Warriors, Reuben Semabia Larli of Sunset Sports, Joseph Awunisie of Sea Sharks and Kini Ticor of Cheetah Beach Soccer Club.”
The strikers were Captain Richard Martei Osai of Layoka BSC, Nungua beech soccer club’s Paul Arthur, Wise Nyamadi of Vodza Iron Breakers, Alfred Torsu of Cheetah BSC, and Alexander Adjetey and Eugene Dekpey of Sea Sharks BSC and Sunset Sports respectively.
The team has been preparing for the continental tournament, in which they held camp at Keta from Sunday, October 6 to Tuesday, October 15.
The Black Sharks after beating the Sand Elephants of Cote D’Ivore by 10-5 on goal aggregate in the qualifiers were in group A alongside the host nation Egypt, Morocco and Tanzania.
The Black Sharks would open their AFCON title campaigns with the first and the opening match against the host nation Egypt, on Saturday, October 19, before taking on Morocco and Tanzania in the second and third group matches respectively on October 21 and 22.
Group B also include defending champions Senegal, Mozambique, Malawi and Mauritania whilst the two finalists, would qualify and participate in the 2025 beach soccer World Cup that would be staged in Seychelles.
Some Black Sharks players GNA engaged expressed hope of winning the AFCON as well as qualifying for the 2025 beach soccer World Cup to represent Africa after eight years of absence in the continental tournament.
GNA