A squad of fifteen players has been announced by the Ghana Beach Soccer Association (GBSA) for the upcoming beach soccer world cup qualifiers in Morocco. Ghana will attempt to qualify for the 2013 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup in Tahiti later this year by aiming for a spectacular first time entrance onto the beach soccer stage next week.
The team commenced non residential training in Accra almost three weeks ago before moving to their base camp in Nungua where they shuttle to the La beach soccer arena for two daily training sessions on sand.
The players who boast of being super fit due to the level of stamina required for the sport, have been put through their paces by interim head coach Maxwell Kpeglo who has conceded that although his boys are inexperienced, they do not lack in skill, determination and the hunger to succeed. '' We are venturing into the unknown but to me that is a positive challenge and the players all agree that this is their time to make their country proud and also make a name for themselves''
President of the GBSA Yaw Ampofo Ankrah is optimistic that ''Team Ghana'' will live up and above their underdog status and match their more experienced opponents from South Africa, Nigeria, Senegal and Cameroon. ''My only fear is that the boys may be challenged by nerves in the opening game since it will be their debut at the African level but in terms of sheer guts and playing ability, if they get going, we will give the big boys of African beach soccer a shock''
Not everyone was happy after the squad had been announced. One disappointed beach-baller Joseph Tornado said that he was extremely disappointed at not making the final team. ''I know I should be in that team because I did my best but the selectors did not think so. All the same life goes on and I will be praying for them to win''
The contingent to Morocco also includes an assistant coach, team doctor, a masseur, GBSA executives and media. From humble beginnings in 2007, Ghana's remarkable progress in beach soccer has seen successes being chalked almost on the quiet with a two tier league currently in the second season.
All the national team players were selected from the existing twenty beach soccer teams. The association has attracted sponsorship from one of Ghana's most respected financial houses CAL Bank, helping them organise coaches and referees courses. The GBSA has also been to congress twice holding two successful elections.
The African Championship kicks off on the 22nd of May the opening day will see Ghana play South Africa and Libya in the first round for a place in the quarter finals. Only a final berth in Morocco will guarantee qualification to the World Cup in Tahiti next September.
TEAM GHANA - Morocco 2013 list of players below:
GK: Francis Agbekey (sunset sports), Daniel Ceasar Osabutey (ada assurance)
DF: Julius Ceasar Beckley (sunset sports), Aziz Kofi, Innocent Kumensah (havedzi mighty warriors), Nii Odartey Lamptey (dansoman)
MF/FW: Divine Sappor, Joseph Larweh Kwetey (ada assurance), Michael Sema (sunset sports), Mathew Lamptey (dansoman), Richard Osai Martei (Wuo Gb3), Isaac Ofori (la yoca).
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