Mr. Yaw Ampofo Ankrah, the National Chairman of Ghana Beach Soccer has lauded the teaming fans, who thronged the game arena to support the Ghana Black Sharks to victory over their Ivorian counterparts during their AFCON qualifier last Sunday.
According to him, the over 9,000 fans, who were clothed in Ghana colours chanting victory for the team showed that Beach soccer has been accepted in Coastal Ghana, particularly Anlo-Keta area,
“Keta is now the spiritual home of beach soccer, because what happened yesterday was beyond sports, the enthusiasm exhibited by the local fans before the game and even after the game was spectacular, it proves that there are greater days ahead for the sport in Ghana,”
He made this known in an interview with the GNA Sports where he used the opportunity to thank all those who contributed towards a successful matchday.
“We are grateful to everyone especially, the GFA, Togbi Agbeshie Awusu II, the Awadada and the entire Anlo Chiefs for their blessings and prayers before the game, the Local Organising Committee, who put all preparations in place, and other stakeholders, who supported the national team during their camping days in many ways to have a successful game Sunday.”
Mr. Ampofo Ankrah used the opportunity to call on the Ghana Football Association (GFA) to leverage on the enthusiasm displayed at Keta to prioritise Beach Soccer and give it the necessary support and attention it deserves.
According to him, sports were meant to entertain and unite people, and beach soccer was serving in that regard and must be promoted and called for appropriate structures to be put in place for the proper development of the sport in Coastal Ghana.
“Beach soccer is an opportunity to promote rich cultures, tourism, economics and entertainment and that is what Keta gave us yesterday, we saw the beautiful cultural performances, the loud music with the fanfare on the shores after the game, it is just a feeling more than sports,”
The Ghana Black Sharks defeated the Sand Elephants of La Cote d’Ivoire by five goals to 3 (Ghana 5-3 CIV) with Alfred Torsu opening the scoreline with Kini Ticor and Wise Nyamadi netting two goals each to anchor victory for the Sharks.
The team is expected to depart for Abidjan for the return leg on Saturday, July 27 after, which the winner qualifies for the Beach Soccer AFCON tournament to be hosted by Egypt, later this year.
