Bawa Idrissu gives 10 million cedis to Spikers

Accra, Sept 15, GNA - Mr Bawa Idrissu, former captain of the national volleyball team has donated 10 million cedis to the team to be used as training allowances while the team prepares for a World Cup elimination series billed for Sudan later in the year.

Mr Erasmus Adokor chief coach of the Volleyball Association who disclosed this to GNA Sports said the gesture of the former captain who now resides in New York had lifted morale in camp, filling the players with a new resolve to succeed. He said he had been working out regularly with 20 players, who form the nucleus of the national team and barring any mishap, the team would qualify from the Sudan tournament and advance to the final elimination stage.

Ghana will compete with host nation Sudan, Eritrea and Uganda and the winner will contend with Egypt, Tunisia, Cameroon and Nigeria, with the first two placements gaining berths at the World Cup in Japan in 2006. Mr Adokor said the Ghanaian team was seeded in the draws for the African qualifiers because of the impressive performance they put up during the All Africa Games in Abuja last year. He said but for lack of sponsorship, he would have conducted a talent hunt in the Northern and Upper East and West Regions to unearth new players with the right physique and mentality to join the national team.

The coach said despite the financial constraints, he was sure to turn the present crop of national team players into a championship team in readiness for the challenges ahead.