Amputees Lift Nick Otte Cup

The Ghana National Amputee Football Team, The Back Challenge, once again demonstrated their readiness to annex the 3rd Cup of African Nations for Amputee Football (CANAF 2011) when they lifted the Nick Otte Cup at a special tournament at the Lincoln Community School over the weekend.

The Black Challenge played a spirited game to beat their counterparts from the Lincoln Community School 2-1 in the final match to fetch the maximum six points to win the special tournament put together by Nick Otte, a student of Lincoln School, as his project.

After going down in the 2nd half by a lone goal, the team came back strongly and equalized with some six minutes left through a beautiful goal by Collins Gyamfi; and just when everyone thought the game was heading for a draw, Joseph Amoh finished off a collaboration between Collins and John Mensah Badu to the admiration of fans.

In the first match of the day, the Black Challenge beat 5th Garrison School 1-0 to pick the three points at stake. Lincoln Community School also beat 5th Garrison by a lone goal, setting the stage for the decider between the Black Challenge and Lincoln.

Though Lincoln proved their worth, the Black Challenge rose to the challenge, coming back from a goal down to win by 2-1 to lift the coveted cup, with six points, Lincoln 3 and 5th Garrison no point.

Presenting the gold trophy to the captain of the winners, Nick Otte expressed his joy at the successful organization of the event and stated that he put it together as his contribution towards CANAF 2011.

He wished the team well in the forthcoming tournament, hoping that other individuals and organizations would support the less-privileged and laudable causes such as the CANAF.

Mr Sekou Nkrumah, son of the first President Kwame Nkrumah, was elated to be part of the ceremony and declared his full support for the Black Challenge as the participate in the CANAF 2011, urging them to ensure that we host and win.

The Principal of the School, Mr Geoff Smith, called on the team to keep up with their preparations in order to make Ghana proud during the African Cup tournament.

Lincoln School took the silver trophy, with 5th Garrison consoling themselves with the bronze cup.

In another match on Sunday, the Black Challenge beat Windy Ladies 2-0 in a friendly match at Winneba. Collins Gyamfi and Captain Richard Opentil scored the goals for the national team.

On Sunday, they beat Windy’s junior side by 2-1 with goals from Collins Gyamfi and Emmanuel Amponsah

More matches have been lined up for the team in preparation towards the African Cup that would gather twelve (12) African Nations in Accra to fight for the coveted cup.