Goldfields Ghana commends Black Stars

Accra, July 7, GNA - Goldfields Ghana Limited, headline sponsors of the senior national team, the Black Stars has called on the playing body to put the painful defeat suffered at the hands of Brazil in the 2006 FIFA World Cup behind them and work towards the annexation of the Africa Cup of Nations to be hosted by Ghana in 2008.

Mr Mike Ezan, Executive Director of the company made the call when the Black Stars paid a courtesy call on the management of the company in Accra on Friday.

He said the performance displayed by the team at the World Cup is an indication that they can go places and urged them not to relent in their efforts but build upon their achievements by winning the Nations Cup and also become the first African nation to win the World Cup, to be staged in South Africa in 2010.

Mr Ezan said even though the team performed poorly at the last Nations Cup held in Egypt early this year, their performance at the World Cup had given the company, the nation and the entire continent a great sense of pride.

Mr Kwasi Nyantakyi, President of the Ghana Football Association (GFA), praised the company for being the first corporate body to invest three million dollars into the team. He said the three year sponsorship enabled the GFA to motivate the players by doubling their bonuses and the employment of a competent coach for the team.

According to Mr Nyatakyi, this laudable support contributed to the =91powerful performances' exhibited by the team at the World Cup, which saw them beating well established nations like the Czech Republic and the United States of America (USA).

Mr Nyantakyi expressed the hope that the company would increase the sponsorship package in the ensuing years.

Captain Skipper Appiah thanked the company for their sponsorship and called on other corporate bodies to help in developing sports.