Mamprobi win opening Tigo Community Soccer of 2012

It was fun, excitement and football action at the Bukom Park

in the heart of Accra on Saturday and Sunday as the 2012 edition of telecommunication

giants, Tigo’s Community Soccer initiative got underway.

Mamprobi emerged champions after beating Asere in the final

to claim the cash prize of five hundred Ghana Cedis (GH¢500), a trophy, medals and

all the bragging rights in a widely talented Accra East zone. Asere got GH¢300 and

medals for their runner-up finish whilst Bukom who had a walkover Abola for 3rd place went home GH¢200 richer in a pool of 16 teams.

Accra East is one of two parts of Accra territory of the

Tigo Community Soccer, a

feast of football, played among competing neighborhood teams in selected

communities across the country. This year’s edition is set to be staged in five

territories-Accra, Eastern, Western, Northern and Ashanti running for two days

at each stop starting with elimination matches at the group stage leading to

the crowning of a community champion.

George

Afriyie, Chairman of the Black Satellites Management Committee and head of

juvenile football at the Ghana Football Association was the special guest at

the launch of this year’s event at Bukom with the support of Mr. Abdulai

Yakubu, Chief Director at the Sports Ministry who performed the traditional

kick-off.

“In

this country, I’m head of juvenile soccer so when we hear about competitions

like the one Tigo are doing here today, we are very interested. Our focus is to

tap talents at young ages and nurture them to become good players who can bring

glory to Ghana. So we say well done Tigo and we assure you of the GFA’s support

all the way,” Mr. Afriyie said as he officially launched the 2012 Tigo Community

Soccer.

Next on the itinerary after

last Saturday’s success in Bukom is Dansoman and Madina which complete the

Accra territory before travelling to Tema, Volta and Eastern regional capitals

Ho and Koforidua respectively who comprise the Eastern territory.

Communities which are interested in participating in the event

are required to contact the Tigo offices in their various regions. Western territory covers

Cape-Coast, Sekondi, Takoradi and Tarkwa. Northern covers Techiman with Ashanti

involving teams from Kumasi, Mampong, Konongo and Obuasi.

According

to Alfred Hammond, BTL Coordinator of Tigo who was chief in organization of the

weekend’s maiden soccer fiesta , the programme is the communication company’s

ideal way of paying back their valued subscribers.

“This

is part of our corporate social responsibility (CSR), it is to give back to the

communities who use our network. It’s also our initiative to promote grassroots

football in order to support communities and improve lives,” Alfred Hammond

said after presenting various prizes to deserving winners.

Accordingly,

Tigo seek to reward the winners with not just the cash, but also teach their

community at large about unity, team building, healthy competition and

aspiration to achieve success.

Mr.

Hammond continued: “Last but not the least, it gives opportunities for talents

to be discovered. We are doing this using FIFA accredited scouts and Glo Ghana

Premier League referees and managers. Examples that happened in Bukom are B.A.

United and DC United picking some players to come for trials.”