Mr Kwadjo Baah-Wiredu, Minister of Education, Youth and Sport (YES) on Friday met the two senior national teams, Black Stars and the Black Queens and discussed their impending assignments with them.

The meeting was aimed at psyching up the teams, assured the players of government support and urged them to have total commitment for their assignments in order to win honours for themselves and the nation.

Mr Wiredu therefore urged the players to inculcate greater discipline, dedication, and sense of mission to be able to achieve their aim.

He assured them that the government would do whatever it takes to up-lift the image of the nation's sports which, he said, is fast sinking and threw a challenge to the players to be worthy ambassadors of the nation by winning their respective games.

The minister said the ministry was keen on ensuring that their winning bonuses and the allowances are in place in order to inspire them to victory adding that "parliament is bent on raising the image of the passion of the nation and would approve anything that would assist you to achieve our aim' he said.

He reminded them on the need to know where they are coming from in order to know where they are going to saying they should be good example to the up and coming young players.

Mr Wiredu said the ministry would soon introduce a hall of fame gallery where kits from both retired and active sports men and women would be displayed for tourists and for selling.

Speaking for the Stars, skipper Stephen Appiah, said his side was encouraged by the meeting and promised the nation to expect their best when they line-up against the Cranes of Uganda at the Kumasi Sports Stadium on Sunday June 22 in the nations cup qualifying match.

He expressed displeasure at his colleagues who turn their back at the nation when they are invited to serve the country.

Appiah said though he agreed that some of his colleagues could have genuine reasons not to answer any call extended to them, they must be prepared to always serve their motherland.

"We truly need some of you who are not ready to move to camp to play well since your experience alone cannot be underrated," he stressed.

He hailed the unity displayed by those in camp presently and said his side would ride on that among others to bring to Ghanaians who are fast losing faith in the Stars.

The Queens on the other hand appealed to the minister for equal attention as the men in their quest to make the nation and the continent proud in the United States.