Black Stars arrive in Maceio

After +10 hours flight from Washington to Salvador then 50 minutes connection onwards to Maceio, the Black Stars of Ghana led by Youth and Sports Minister Hon Elvis Afriyie Ankrah, Ghana FA President Kwesi Nyantakyi and Coach Kwesi Appiah touched down in the capital of the Alagoas region of Brazil Maceio.

The officials and players were met on arrival by the State representative of Tourism Marcos Pradines and his superintendents as well as deputies from the State governor's office and Ghana technical advisor Sam Arday amid heavy security.


There was a hold-up for over thirty minutes just before the plane landed following what appeared to be a communications breakdown between FIFA officials and security on the ground. This led to the prevention of filming upon the team's arrival by Metro TV of Ghana and Supersport from South Africa.


However, following the protocol intervention by GFA Communications Director Ibrahim Sannie and other officials, the issue was resolved and access granted to the respective crews to shoot the departure from the airport and arrival at the Radisson Hotel.


Ghana's high powered delegation also included George Afriyie, Kwame Ofosu Bamfo and several other GFA executives.

Scores of local fans, Ghanaians and media defied the heavy downpour to wait patiently for the team bus to arrive at the hotel. Interestingly, some of the fans who pitched camp outside the hotel were students from all over Africa; Benin, Mozambique, DR Congo, Nigeria, Cameroon, Togo, Liberia and South Africa were all represented.


It is likely that the team will hold a light training session behind closed doors on Thursday ahead of their offical open training session the following day at the 60 year old Rei Pele (King Pele) Sports Stadium.


Excitement and pride at hosting Ghana will take a back seat momentarily as Brazil open the 2014 World Cup against Croatia. Meanwile the multi billionaire State Governor of this vast tourism destination of 1 million citizens Teotonio Lela has ordered the distribution of 10,000 free tickets to locals to watch the Black Stars train on Friday.