Akunnor guest at Tigo Community Soccer climax in Cape Coast

Former Black Stars captain, C.K. Akunnor brought down the curtains of the 2014 Tigo Community Soccer competition when he handed over the trophy to Abom, the winners of the Cape Coast finals.

Troom finished in second place whilst Kotokuraba finished third. All teams took home cash prizes, souvenirs as well as football apparel.

Akunnor whose successful European career was highlighted by captaining German giants Wolfsburg was beside himself with excitement because “Tigo Community Soccer has given me the opportunity to return to grassroots soccer again. The aim of the competition is to make heroes out of the communities and that is exactly what happened. These winners are heroes. In fact anybody who wore the jersey felt very proud to be part of the community all- stars team.”

Other dignitaries on hand to see the final event in Cape Coast lauded Tigo for a great job done in putting together the Tigo Community Soccer project. Coach of Ebusua Dwarfs, J E Sarpong said: “There are many players here. If I had some of the players here I am sure we would have avoided the drop. The next step is for these players to be serious about their careers. Well done to Tigo.”

The 2014 Tigo Community Soccer project also took on a health benefits campaign for all host communities. Tigo encouraged residents of various communities and fans to embrace a community health screening initiative and a blood donation exercise under its Tigo Community Care initiative.

At least 900 residents of Cape Coast and its environs were screened for susceptibility to diabetes, hypertension and other lifestyle related illnesses as well as malaria. Doctors were on hand by the football field to consult with patients and referred only critical cases to the Cape Coast General Hospital.

“This morning I woke up with a dead leg and felt intense palpitations. I could not feel my leg at all. So when I heard about the doctors I came here to see them. Even though many people were here, they took time and explained why I had the dead leg and asked me a few questions. They also said my blood pressure was over 145/90 so they asked me to come to the hospital to do something called ECG. I am going there right now. At least I am happy my leg works and thankful to Tigo for bringing the doctors along,” said Maame Kesewa Hayford, a resident of London Bridge.

Tigo’s Community Care Project which partnered Tigo Community Soccer screened at least 6,000 Ghanaians of lifestyle related ailments and malaria free of charge across the length and breadth of the country. At least 500 pints of blood was also realised to augment the blood bank across the country. Nana Yaw Osei-Darkwa, the National Coordinator of Tigo Community Soccer says both health workers and patients have been thrilled by the experience.

“We want to say a big thank you to all the doctors, nurses and other health workers who took part in the Tigo Community Care projects. Everywhere we have been, both patients and doctors have been thrilled by the experience of meeting in an informal setting unlike the hospital and still be able to administer health and trust each other with critical information. This is what Tigo Community Soccer and Tigo Community Care have been able to achieve by way of partnership,” Mr. Osei-Darkwa said.

The Public Relations and Advertising Manager of Tigo, Kwamena Buckman said the main aim of the partnership between Tigo’s Community Care and Tigo Community Soccer has been realised.

“At Tigo we care about our community. We don’t only care about the Community’s passion which is football but we care about the total wellbeing of the Community. Tigo Community Soccer caters to the passion of the community which is football especially in such a global fiesta year for football,” Mr. Buckman said.

“But these heroes who play Community Soccer have families and relations. Once we give them an opportunity to shine in soccer, their families, friends and relations which make up the community also get the chance to benefit from Tigo’s health campaign. So soccer for passion and community care for wellbeing” Kwamena Buckman added.

At least 3,000 footballers in Ghana took part in the 2014 Tigo Community Soccer. All of them received jerseys and souvenirs from the giant telecom company in Ghana. Aside the 6000 fans screened for health reasons, at least 500 pints of blood was realised for various hospitals in Ghana.

European soccer scouts and agents also selected 15 players from the 3,000 to be observed and processed for onward transfer to Europe and other continents while there are also plans to invest some of Ghana’s premier leagues with talent from the 2014 Tigo Community Soccer.