By Evans Worlanyo Ameamu
Keta (V/R), Oct. 7, GNA – Mr Jame Gunu, the Volta Regional Minister, has donated GHS 10,000 to the Black Sharks, Ghana’s beach soccer team, to help them prepare for their Beach Soccer Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier against Nigeria.
The money was presented at the team’s training ground at Keta by a delegation led by Mr Gabriel Dzikunu, the Assembly Member for Keta Central, who represented the Minister.
Mr Gunu, pledged his continued support to the team and said the entire Volta Region was behind the Black Sharks to deliver.
He recalled how the side came through against Côte d’Ivoire in a previous qualifier some years ago and expressed confidence that they could repeat the feat.
“We are calling on everyone to rally behind the team and to turn out in their numbers on October 18 for the return leg, after the first leg in Nigeria on October 11,” he said.
The Black Sharks were expected to hold their last training session on Wednesday and leave Keta by flight in the early hours of October 8, for Nigeria.
The return leg would be played at the Keta Emancipation Beach Soccer Arena on October 18.
Mr Yaw Kusi Gyamfi Aware, the Beach Soccer League Committee Chairman, who received the donation on behalf of the team, in an interview with the Ghana News Agency, thanked the chiefs and elders of the Volta Region, and the Regional Minister for the love and passion for beach soccer.
Mr Aware said the Minister had always shown readiness to back the sport whenever it was mentioned and disclosed that the committee had called Mr Gunu about 72 hours earlier to explain the team’s challenges and had delivered as promised.
“I am assuring the Minister that we will keep working to ensure beach soccer stays in the region, we thank him very much for his investment and support for beach soccer. We will not disappoint him,” he said.
Mr Aware declared that the players were going to win in Nigeria and return to seal the victory at home, adding that the October 18 fixture would be a celebration and the team was fully prepared mentally, physically and spiritually.
He said the squad had faced no difficulty in Keta, since the players were familiar with the environment, and invited the public to visit the training ground to motivate them and see how serious the boys were.
Mr Aware added that the Minister’s gesture had opened the door for others, and appealed to individuals and organisations to donate to the team.
He also asked fans from other regions, especially Accra, to travel to Keta on October 18 to support the Black Sharks, while expressing confidence that the home crowd would turn out in force.
GNA also gathered that the Super Sand Eagles of Nigeria would host Black Sharks on October 10, at Lagos, Nigeria.
GNA
Edited by Maxwell Awumah/ Christabel Addo