President John Dramani Mahama has rallied Ghanaians to support the senior national football team, the Black Stars in their quest for the next World Cup Qualifier against Chad.
The President during a visit to the Black Stars at their training camp at the Accra Sports Stadium on Friday evening said: “I am here on behalf of all Ghanaians as the President of the Republic to just cheer you on and encourage you”.
“Ghanaians have had their hearts broken by the fact that we didn’t qualify for the AFCON (Africa Cup of Nations), but even when we qualified for the AFCON, we crashed out very early the last time and so we haven’t given up on you.”
The President reiterated that Ghanaians still believe that the Black Stars could find its glory again and that it was dependent on players and the technical team and the management committee.
“It takes sacrifice, it takes strength. We all like to watch you when you play for your teams and we expect that you bring some of that dedication to the national team,” he stated.
“Playing for the national team is not as lucrative as playing for your individual teams, but still that sense of pride and patriotism that your nation, you know, has gone to the World Cup is something that is worth dying for.
“And so before you start the qualifiers, let’s put the AFCON debacle behind us and let’s look forward.”
He reiterated that in the World Cup qualifiers, the senior national football team was going to redeem itself.
“If we play and we qualify, Ghanaians will find it in their hearts to come fully behind the team again. And I know you can do it. I mean, you’re all talented players,” President Mahama said.
“We’re going to continue to support you, not only for the World Cup, but beyond. We think that we must build a very strong team and the way to build a strong team is to find the resources to bring you together as much as possible so that you’re playing together.”
The President underscored the need to look for young talents to join the senior national football team, so that they also could play with them and bring them up as the next generation of the stars.
“I’ll take time off and watch the game myself. Even though my heart is not very good at watching soccer, I will brave it. They say I should eat before I go and sit down. And my hope is that you will justify my sitting and watching you guys,” President Mahama said.
He noted that the whole of Ghana was going to be behind the Black Stars and that he was sure they could make it.
The President was accompanied by Mr Kofi Iddie Adams, the Minister of Youth and Recreation.
