The first ever beach soccer league season in Ghana finally came to an end on Saturday, May 12, 2012 with much more than just soccer on the menu. In a festival atmosphere, there was not a moment to miss.
La Beach Soccer Arena witnessed an attendance record with over a dozen dignitaries also present. Led by the Minister of Youth and Sports Hon. Clement Kofi Humado and National Sports Authority director WK Agra, a rich list of illustrious personalities at the arena included Ghana Football Association technical advisor coach Francis Oti Akenteng, and Deputy Minister of Local Government Hon. Elvis Afriyie Ankrah.
The GBSA was also honored by the presence of a DSTV delegation led by PR and Publicity Manager, Mrs. Anne Sackey, Tsatsu Kudiabor Operations Coordinator and Miss Nana Yaa Boateng, Marketing and Sales. The final day of the exciting league was also an opportunity for music, culture and tourism to combine as Miss Tourism Ghana 2011 Priscilla Asare led by her Patron, Mrs Delphine Brew-Hammond, and four other Miss Tourism Ghana beauties graced the historic sporting event. Voltic Mineral Water and Zoil/Zoomlion representatives also honoured their invitation.
The Mandela Acrobatic Boys and the Obour Dancers provided cultural displays during intervals. As part of the ''Family and communities Unite'' campaign by the Ghana Beach Soccer Association, free food was served to the guests, teams and the first 100 fans who entered the arena. Ghanaian dishes including banku with fish, tilapia, kenkey, waakye, grilled chicken and fried plantain were on the menu while major sponsors Voltic Mineral Water provided free refreshment and water.
With such a setting and hundreds of spectators, the action was spectacular in the heat of the sun as teams battled it out. A blend of controversy and quality marked the Golden Eagles and Gulf Powers match. Junior Tornado delighted the crowd with a pair of goals but his feat could not prevent his team from losing 4-2 to Gulf Powers.
After eight entertaining matches, the action on the sand ended with a thrilling exhibition game between Championship winners Keta Sunset Sports and Division 1 League champions Teshie United.
With nothing competitive at stake, the men in bright orange took full advantage of Teshie’s lack of motivation by recording a straightforward 3-0 victory. Keta Sunset Sports were cheered on by over 100 traveling fans who painted the crowd in yellow with printed jerseys showing the club’s Facebook/KetaSunsetSports address. During the final fixture of the day, the Hon. Sports Minister revealed that “in consultation with the National Sports Authority” a beach soccer arena will be constructed in Keta where the beaches are widely considered to be livelier than in the Ghanaian capital.
Beach Soccer League champions Sunset Sports and runners-up Havedzi Mighty Warriors are both from Keta in the Volta region; the promised beach soccer arena project is believed to be a reward for Sunset and Havedzi’s top performances and efforts to attend each Matchday in La, Accra.
The sun finally went down at the La Pleasure Beach Soccer Arena but did not overshadow the exciting atmosphere. Richard Osa of Wuo Gbee beat Joseph Larweh (Ada Assurance) and Michael Sema (Sunset Sports) to clinch the Championship Goal King award with an astonishing 30 goals.
Teshie United’s Ronald Yemofio picked up the Division 1 League Goal King award with 20 goals. The Coach of the Year award for the two leagues went to Daniel Sedegah (Sunset Sports) and Theophilus Nii Armah (Teshie United).
The Championship and Division 1 Fair Play awards went to Senya Sharks and Nima Beach Soccer Club respectively. Meanwhile, Ishmael Laryea of African Angels grabbed the Discovery of the Year award.
Event navigator Yaw Ampofo Ankrah who is also the President of the GBSA, thanked all the sponsors and assured that beach soccer will experience massive improvement and growth. The GBSA paid special tribute to DSTV Mobile for their support and motivation of young players, ever present sponsors Voltic Mineral Water, ZOIL/Zoomlion for the superb maintenance of the beach soccer arena, Clementia Contacto and title sponsor of the Championship League CAL Bank for taking the branding of the Arena to the next level.
