President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo on Thursday night urged the national football team, the Black Stars, to end Ghana’s 36-year Nation’s Cup drought, at their showing in this year’s tournament in Egypt.
Expressing confidence in the ability of the team and its technical handlers to surmount that challenge, he appealed to the playing body to make the needed sacrifices to ensure that Ghana was once again placed at the top levels of African football.
The President made the appeal when he met the players, management and technical body of the Black Stars ahead of their departure to the Emirates to commence their preparation for the 2019 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournament that would be held from June 21 to July 19.
He harped on the need for commitment and teamwork on the part of the players, and the unreserved respect for the authority of the coach, Mr Kwasi Appiah and that of the captain of the team.
“You have to respect unreservedly, the authority of the Coach and the authority of the Captain…that is basic rules, non negotiable rules, if you don’t do it, everybody will be going their separate ways. If you do that, you cement the team work and you will become a cohesive forceful force”
The President was insistent that the team ought be disciplined, focused and united in order to win the tournament, saying that teamwork was at the heart of success in virtually every enterprise.
He also assured them that Thirty million Ghanaians are behind them and praying feverishly…that the 37 years wait since we last won the cup will come to an end this year.
Adding that government would provide the needed support to enable it succeed in the tournament. The team leaves Ghana June 1, 2019 for Dubai to commence preparations for the tournament.
