Deputy Minister organises soccer gala at Wa

Wa, April 12, GNA - The third annual gala competition for Under-12 Colts Soccer Clubs in the Wa Municipality was held at Wa at the weekend with Wa United of Dondoli emerging as this year's champions. They beat Anokye Stars of Sokpayiri who were last year's runners-up of the competition by 5-4 on penalties, after a one-all drawn game during regulation time.

The champions Wa United took home a trophy, a set of jerseys valued at 800,000 cedis and a cash prize of 200,000 cedis while Anokye Stars had 150,000 cedis and a football.

Mr. Clement Eledi, Deputy Minister of Food and Agriculture who initiated the competition in 2002 donated all the prizes to the competitors.

Fourteen colts teams in the municipality participated in the two-day tournament organised annually by Mr. Eledi to coincide with the Easter celebrations.

Mr. Eledi, in an address, congratulated the eventual winners and all the participating teams for their show of fair-play and sportsmanship and urged them to allow such attitude to permeate their dealings with the society.

The Deputy Minister told the teams and spectators that he was able to initiate the widely patronised competition because of his position in government and therefore appealed to them to vote massively to retain the NPP in power to enable him organise many more bigger tournaments for the next years.

He said his ultimate wish was to see that the municipality produced one or two top world class footballers in the near future. Mr. Thomas Saanye, Upper West Regional Sports Development Officer praised the participating teams for the sacrifices they made towards their preparation for the competition and the spirit of sportsmanship that prevailed throughout the tournament.