Beach Soccer to lead sports tourism in Ghana

The Ghana Beach Soccer Association (GBSA) and the La Pleasure beach resort have joined forces to elevate beach soccer as a major sports tourism lure in the capital. This was disclosed by executives and management of the two outfits after fruitful talks that lasted over two hours at the La beach arena. It is understood that Zoomlion through their beach and coastal management wing Zoil would be key partners in the project.

Speaking after the meeting, the manager of La Pleasure beach resort William Odoi-Cornal stated that leisure, sports and tourism can be packaged to transform the concept of sports and entertainment in Ghana. '' Let us not pretend we can do in a few years, what developed nations have done over a decade or more with so much investment. Instead we will do our best to make a meaningful impact and support all sporting activities on the beach starting with beach soccer''.

Beach soccer is one of the most physically demanding sports in the world and the management of the game is proving to be equally challenging here in Ghana. The GBSA manages two leagues made up of the Championship with 10 teams and Division 1 which also comprises of 10 teams. A major headache for the league managers is the manner in which they have somehow run the two leagues on a budget of Gh 40,000 a season from Cal Bank.

According to the association's treasurer Nii Armah Nmai, the weekly expenditure for the league has had to be cut down to just under Gh4,000 which means other sources of funding have to be sought to assist the teams travelling from Cape Coast, Ada, Senya, Prampram and Keta.

The GBSA was formed in 2007 with no available or existing infrastructure but managed to hold a 16 team side-show during AFCON 2008 hosted by Ghana. The association only recently reconstituted after holding congress and elections in 2011 and 2012 respectively. The new partnership will see massive rebranding of the beach soccer venue in Accra. The idea is to replicate the concept right across the coastal belt.

Reacting to media reports of a breakdown in management of the sport, the President of the GBSA Yaw Ampofo Ankrah said it was a ploy to derail the plans of the association. ''We are building something great and it is now reaching a critical phase where we must solidify and consolidate. The biggest mistake any of us could make is to be distracted by individuals who have no interest in the development of the game''

After years of building structures from scratch and two seasons of the innovative beach soccer leagues, the GBSA will soon present a report to the Ministry of Tourism, Ghana Tourism Authority and Ministry of Youth and Sports on the way forward which will include a tighter collaboration and promotion of beach soccer at the La pleasure beach resort. ''I wonder if it is only in Ghana that people seem to be afraid of failure so they refuse to try but rather sit and do nothing'' concluded Mr.Odoi Cornal.

In a new development, the CEO of Omniquest Mr Fred Amoah whose marketing and sponsorship agency has been tasked with putting beach soccer on the world map has stated that contrary to reports that beach soccer is in crisis, the sport is rather going through a phase of silent preparation ahead of a ''big bang''.

''Beach soccer is a goldmine but we have to dig deep and dig hard to make this project work. The problem is that not everyone is ready to work but only recieve so that attitude must change and clubs must also be professional to look for sponsors as happens all over the world. That is why we must do our homework well and make sure we leave no stone unturned in chasing for lasting results by working with stakeholders and partners''

Mr Amoah conceded that the GBSA is a young and vibrant association so it is bound to encounter challenges but he heaped praises on CAL Bank, Voltic Mineral Water, Zoil/Zoomlion and the management of La Pleasure Beach Resort for their magnificent support to the fastest growing sport along the coastlines of Ghana. ''We must also acknowledge the tremendous support we got from the immediate past sports Minister Hon. Humado''.

GBSA will submit a comprehensive technical report to the GFA on beach soccer’s development in Ghana at the end of the current second season. This will pave the way for a new committee in conjunction with the GFA as the key ingredient to apply ahead of the next FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup qualifiers through the Confederation of African Football (CAF).