By Evans Worlanyo Ameamu, GNA
Keta (VR), May 22, GNA – The Volta Regional Football Association (VRFA) has toured the Volta Regional Division Two Middle League trophy through Keta, combining the activities with a tree-planting exercise to promote environmental conservation.
The event formed part of the FA’s pre-tournament activities ahead of the Middle League, which was scheduled to commence on Saturday, May 23 to Sunday, May 31, with Keta FC been among the clubs that qualified for the competition.
Officials of the Volta FA, led by Promise Ahiagba, the Regional Secretary, said that the move was to draw cheers from football fans, residents, and football enthusiasts who were anticipating to catch a glimpse of the trophy.
Madam Tilda Akorlor, the RFA Communication team member, during an engagement held at the Keta Municipal Assembly Hall, said the trophy tour was meant to build excitement and unity among football communities across the region.
“The Middle League represented a key pathway for clubs seeking promotion to Division One and is accompanied with tree planting to enable conserve a safer environment,” she said.
She added that football development must go hand in hand with social responsibility, hence the decision to incorporate a tree-planting exercise into this year’s activities while the initiative is also expected to enable raise awareness on the need to protect the environment.
“We cannot separate sports from the community in which it is played. Planting trees today is our way of contributing to a greener environment and to encourage others to do same.”
Mr Christopher Mensah, the Presiding Member of Keta Municipal Assembly, who represented Mr Wisdom Seade, the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for Keta, and other Assembly Members, commended the VFA for using football as a platform to promote environmental sustainability.
He pledged that the Assembly would continue to support similar initiatives in the future and urged Keta FC players, officials and the entire management body to perform beyond their limit and bring the trophy to the area.
He also urged residents to nurture the planted trees and adopt practices that conserve the environment, and added that climate change posed a growing threat to coastal communities like Keta.
Mr Franklin Deynu, the General Secretary of Keta FC, described the qualification for the Middle League as a milestone for the club and the municipality and promised that the team was fully prepared to make Keta proud in the competition.
He added that the exposure from the trophy tour and the environmental activity had boosted the morale of the players ahead of their fixtures
Supporters of the club who turned out for the event expressed optimism that Keta FC would advance from the Middle League and bring the much-anticipated top-flight division one football competition to the area.
Some fans, Ghana News Agency, engaged expressed joy over the trophy tour and pledged to be at Ho sports stadium to support the team to victory.
They also appealed for support to enable the team to prepare adequately for the one-week long event.
GNA
Edited by: Maxwell Awumah/Kenneth Odeng Adade