Gold Fields Limited supports Black Stars qualifier

Accra, Sept 4, GNA - Gold Fields Ghana Limited, the headline sponsor of Ghana's Black Stars has presented 150,000 dollars for the team's upcoming World Cup qualifier against Libya. The amount, which was presented through the Ghana Football Association, is to cater for the bonuses, airfares, allowances and other costs to be borne by the team on their trip to Tripoli for the September 5 encounter.

The Corporate Affairs Director, Gold Fields, Ghana, Dr Tony Aubynn in a press release copied to GNA Sports in Accra, said the company is continuing with its support to the Black Stars to ensure that they produce a positive result in Tripoli this weekend to guarantee a safe passage to the next phase of the qualifiers.

Gold Fields Ghana, the long time partners of the Black Stars, is sponsoring the team with about 1.3 million dollars every year over the next three years.

Significant funding from the mining firm which has its operations in Tarkwa and Damang, in 2005 propelled Ghana to its first ever World Cup appearance in Germany 2006.

Dr Aubynn said "With the appointment of a new coach, the return of captain, Stephen Appiah and the zeal of the team to replicate the heroics of Germany 2006, I am confident the Black Stars will definitely scale the Libyan hurdle".

Ghana is currently joint leaders of Africa's qualifying Group 5 with Libya in the joint 2010 Africa Nations Cup and World Cup qualifiers.

A win in Tripoli this weekend for Ghana will ensure qualification to the next Group phase of the series with a game to spare against Lesotho in October.

In June this year the Black Stars received 500,000 dollars from Gold Fields for the four matches played during the month.