SOS Village holds mini FIFA gala to raise funds

Accra, May 19, GNA, - The SOS Chidren's Villages, Ghana, in partnership with FIFA, would on Saturday May 27 organise a fund raising mini gala to support the activities and projects of the Villages in the country.

Dubbed: "Watch the World Cup before it happens," eight participating teams would be made to imitate eight nations that have qualified for the World Cup in a hot competition at the Dansoman Liberty Sports Stadium at 0900 hrs.

Mr. Kojo Mattah, National Director, SOS Village, at a press briefing on Friday, said the tournament, to be held in a day, would serve as a curtain raiser to the World Cup, with a knockout concept where only winning teams would advance to the next stage of the competition.

He said the gala was also to celebrate its partnership with FIFA to collect donations from football fans around the world for the establishment of six other SOS Villages.

Mr Mattah said proceeds from the SOS 6 Villages for 2006-Official Charity Campaign of the 2006 FIFA World Cup which runs until the end of the final match at the World Cup, would help establish new villages in Brazil, Mexico, Nigeria, South Africa, Ukraine and Vietnam. He stated that the tournament in Ghana would also create public awareness of the plight of abandoned and neglected children worldwide. In all eight matches would be played by local teams representing Japan, Ghana, Brazil, Germany, England, USA, Cote d'Ivoire and Togo.

Participating teams of the gala include the Down Town, Accra Friendship, Duncan and the Liberty Oldies Keep-fit clubs, the All Banks team, the Ghana Immigration Service, Metro TV and the Radio Gold. After a balloting session the Down Town keep-fit club, representing Germany would play Radio Gold, which represents the USA, while Metro TV representing Brazil would play with the Ghana Immigration Service which represents Japan in group 'A'.

In the Group 'B' session, the All Banks team, representing England would play Liberty Oldies Club representing Ghana, while the Accra Friendship keep-fit Club representing Cote D'Ivoire would play the Duncan keep-fit club, representing Togo.

Mr Mattah said the matches could be played from the quarterfinals to the finals in each group after which winners would proceed to the semi finals, from which there would emerge the grand finalists. He thanked FIFA for its continuous support to the SOS Villages in areas of financial support for sports fields and football training and called on the public to participate in the programme to help secure enough funds for SOS projects in Ghana. He also called on other agencies, organisations and individuals to contribute in their own small ways to help improve the lives of the children in the villages. The Hords Limited, Producers of Brown Gold Cocoa powder, presented a cheque for 25 million cedis to the SOS Villages, Ghana, and pledged to donate annually to support activities of the Villages. 19 May 06.