Tigo supports 1,000 footballers

*in Accra as Tigo community Soccer invades the Capital *

Accra will experience a soccer shake-up in the following four weeks when Ghana's biggest and most participatory football event, the Tigo Community Soccer invades the nation's capital beginning this weekend.

The coastal communities of Teshie, Bukom and Gbeigbeise in Dansoman will host three consecutive weeks of action-packed community football competition while Ashaiman in Tema will host the fourth event.

"The capital will experience a week-on-week stir in football with the events we have planned. Community football rivalry is very healthy in Accra. At least 1000 footballers will take part in the four events. All these players will get jerseys, a pair of hose and the opportunity to display their craft before football scouts and accredited FIFA agents," National Co-ordinator of Tigo Community Soccer, Nana Yaw Osei Darkwa told newsmen in Accra.

"This year is all about the World Cup which is no doubt the biggest stage in world football. For all these footballers, the opportunity to represent their communities is huge and it can change their lives as well. So we put them into a competition on the pitch to discover their abilities to be heroes just like all the players at the World Cup," said Nana Yaw Osei Darkwa.

Tigo's Community Soccer has already been to three regions being Ashanti, Brong Ahafo and Northern. Everywhere the competition has gone, the format has included activities beyond football. A health screening campaign and a blood donation exercise has become integral to the appreciation of Tigo Community Soccer.

The Public Relations and Advertising Manager of Tigo Community Soccer Kwamena Buckman added: "Tigo cares for the Community. We care about their health status of everyone in the Community. We realise there are many lifestyle diseases that can be managed or prevented if people knew about their status early enough. So wherever we go, we encourage people to come out and do a glucose test to determine their vulnerability to diabetes and a high blood pressure test."

Mr. Buckman: "We also encourage people to save lives by donating blood. So far, we have realised over 200 pints of blood for hospitals in Kumasi, Mampong, Sunyani and Tamale. All donors have been certified and we aim to build on the success of these community care campaigns. That is why we tell people 'Smile, you have got Tigo.'"

The LEKMA Hospital in Teshie will be the first beneficiary of the blood donation exercise as the first event in the Accra leg of the Tigo Community Soccer Competition will be held at the Teshie Estate Preparatory School Park this weekend.

Some of the communities scheduled to take part in the competition are Teshie Zongo, Century, Sea Lady, Teshie Camp 2, Tebibiano and Gornno school. The other communities are Nungua Zongo, First Junction, Coco Beach, Grada Estates, Teshie Estates, Annomantu Manna Mission, Las Cala, Nungua Adegon and Nungua C5. The health screening and blood donation exercise runs on the sidelines of the football activity.

"These communities are already primed for action. They will have to confirm their involvement and get ready to become heroes for their community," said Nana Yaw Osei Darkwa.

"We also have the women's penalty shootout and the Azonto dance competitions which will bring the entire community out to have fun."

After Teshie, the Tigo Community Soccer competition will berth at Bukom for the Ga Mashie leg of the tourney. Dansoman and Ashaiman will then take their turn before Nkawkaw in the Eastern Region and Sekondi in the Western Region.

The Central Region will host the final edition of this year's Tigo Community Soccer Competition on the 7th and 8th of June 2014.