The Technical Team of the Ghana National Amputee Football Team has called for support from the Ministry of Youth and Sports, the corporate world and other stakeholders for the upcoming Amputee Africa Cup of Nations Tournament slated for the 8th to 19th of April,2024 in Cairo, Egypt.
The plea came at a press conference organized at the Home of the African Paralympic Committee, Accra.
The presser according to the technical team was necessitated due to the lack of funding and support from MOYS, the corporate world and other stakeholders which have crippled their preparations for their title defence in the continental amputee football masterpiece. “We are pleading with the government to give us a chunk of the remaining budget from Ghana’s(Black Stars) AFCON budget”, outspoken Welfare Officer, Emmanuel Akpabli demanded.
Other technical members Ali Jarrah, Coach Stephen Richard Obeng, Eric Lartey Anang and other present all added their voices to the plea,citing a clear neglect of the team at this crucial moment. “We are yet to have our promise of $2000 by NPC President, Sampson Deen fulfilled after winning the first-ever Paralympic Football Tournament organised right here in Accra last year”,they revealed.
Though there have been some promises from stakeholders and corporate bodies, the team is yet to begin any substantial preparations ahead of the games for the AAFCON 2024 in Egypt unless their collective budget of $230000 is realized with barely two months to the tournament.
They however praised the efforts of the NPC in their subsequent quests to bring glory to Ghana.
The team won the last AAFCON Trophy in Tanzania despite the challenges.
Story by Clement Osei Aboagye, Contributor: Stephen Asare
