Fear grips soccer fans over World Cup ticket rates

… Appeal to

government for support

Ghanaian

football fans have expressed their feelings over the Brazil 2014 World Cup

tickets after Vice President of the Ghana Football Association; Fred Crentsil

has released the categories of tickets and dates to apply.

Mariam

Buckman, head of the UNISON Supporters of Ghana told yours truly the match

tickets are too expensive and the ordinary Ghanaian soccer fan can not afford

even the category C tickets which are the cheapest.

She

stressed that $90 each for three group stage games, $121 for 1/16th stage, $182 for

Qurater finals, $303 for Semi

finals, $182 for the third place and $484 for the grand finale totaling $1,542

if one wants to see all matches is very

expensive.

She

said the best way out is for the Ghana government to bail out some of the fans,

because Ghana’s Black Stars have to enjoy some raw Ghanaian support at the

World Cup if the nation wants to improve upon previous performances or win the

mundial for Africa for the first time.

According

to Madam Buckman it would be very difficult for ordinary supporters to pay $1,

542 for the cheapest tickets aside their accommodation, feeding, transportation

and air fares.

“We

cannot afford to spend over $2,000 each in Brazil. For sure the government must

help. They have done it before in previous World Cups and President John

Dramani Mahama must try his best to send as many sports journalists, football

supporters and medical personnel” she emphasized.

The

former Accra Hearts of Oak stauch fan who had been involved in the management

of Women’s Football said football has made her popular and she will continue to

support and contribute to the promotion and development of football in Ghana.

Abraham

Nkansah popularly called Apiriguchakapama told yours truly the match tickets

are expensive and nothing can be than but to seek support from corporate bodies

for the fans who have backed the Black Stars through the qualifiers.

The

president of the Die Hard Supporters Group noted that Ghanaians love soccer and the

nation has the great chance of

winning the cup if the Ghana Football Association and the Ministry of Youth

& Sports plan very well.

He

added that President Mahama must consider the enthusiasm of the Ghana

Supporters and link them to companies and agencies to offer sponsorship for the

fans.

Vincentia

Deku of the Women Supporters Union of Ghana (WOSUGA) said it is time for many

Ghanaian women to show their love for the Black Stars and also advertise the

culture of Ghana at the World Cup.

She

said Ghana has much to share at the FIFA World Cup and the event would be an

avenue for showcasing tourism and sports.

“Ghanaians

are very special people and we will show the world that we play the best of

football and have beautiful women like the one who won third place at the Miss

world Pagent. We have big potential and we must show it at the World Cup. We

just want to plead with companies and philanthropic individuals to support us

to the World Cup. We must be there at all cost. Yes we must be there” she said.

Guntu

of the Millennium Supporters Group also hinted that they are working out with

the Ministry of Youth & Sports and other private institutions for financial

support as most of their members who really sing and cheer the Black Stars most

are unemployed and have no back bone than to rely on the NDC government.

“We

see it as a reward for the fans who contributed to the election of the

president. We love the first man of the land and we know he will support us to

make Ghana proud. This is the time of the black Stars to better the African

record and we will cheer then on to make Africa proud” he said.

The

various supporters groups of Ghana have come together to form the Ghana Supporters

and they are trying to mobilize financial support for their members to go to

Brazil.

Some

of the members of the Ghana Supporters are NSU, GHANSU, Millennium, Die Hard,

UNISON, Great African, Disabled Supporters, WOSUGA and others.

FIFA

has fixed February 4, 2014 as closing date for application of tickets and

payments should be made before February 28, 2014.

Ghana

has been paired alongside Germany, USA and Portugal in the group of death for

the FIFA World Cup which starts from June 12 to July 13, 2014.