Wa, Feb. 23, GNA - Consultations are far advanced by the Upper West Regional Football Association (RFA) with stakeholders to officially name the Wa Sports Stadium after Malik Jabir, an indigene of the Region and one of the country's former football heroes.
The stadium would thus be officially called Malik Jabir Sports Stadium after the consultation process had been finalized and approved.
Alhaji Daudi Yahaya, Upper West RFA Chairman, in briefing with the GNA Sports on the issue, said the Association took the decision with the intension of honouring the former football hero for his great achievements and contributions towards the development of the sport in the country. He said names of Baba Yara and Malik Jabir came up when the Association took the decision to rename the stadium but noted that since Baba Yara had already been named after the Kumasi Sports Stadium, it was only appropriate to name the Wa stadia too after Malik Jabir.
Alhaji Yahaya said he has already consulted several stakeholders including Mr Mahmud Khalid, the Regional Minister, Mr Rashid Pelpuo, former Minister of Youth and Sports and Mr Kwesi Nyantakyi, President of the Ghana Football Association and Chief Executive of Wa All Stars Football Club among others and they have all approved of the idea.
He said the Association was now waiting on the Regional Coordinating Council (RCC) to notify the National Sports Council (NSC) for its approval before they could officially do the change of name.
The Chairman indicated that if everything went on successfully a friendly football match would be arranged between Wa All Stars and Kumasi Asante Kotoko at the end of this year's Premier League season to officially name the stadium after the former football hero in Wa, the regional capital. Malik Jabir, who is a former player and captain of Kotoko from 1964 - 1977 and later a coach of the Club, is currently the Technical Adviser of Kano Pillars Football Club of Nigeria.
Jabir, born on 8th December, 1946 in Wa, started his early football career in the region before moving to Kumasi where he joined Kotoko. The much experienced coach received his training as a coach in Lilishall Sport Center - London in 1985.
The four times assistant Coach of the Black Stars during the Africa Cup of Nations was voted best coach in Burkina Faso in 1990. Malik captained the Black Stars and played in several tournaments for the nation including the 1968 Olympic Games in Mexico and the Cup of Nations in Addis-Ababa and Sudan in 1968 and 1970 respectively.
