Obuasi, April 9, GNA - Stakeholders of sports promotion in the Obuasi Municipality have been called upon to assist in developing the various divisions of Colts soccer in the area. Ms Grace Asiam, the Municipal Sports Development Officer who made the call through the GNA Sports at Obuasi on Friday, said as a result of financial constraints, soccer development in divisions one, two and three was not progressing as expected.

"Six third division clubs in Obuasi have so far qualified to play the Middle League scheduled for Prempeh College in Kumasi for their qualification to the Second Division but due to lack of funds, I now want to solicit funds from the private companies and other organisations to help relieve them of their financial burdens", Ms Asiam said. The Municipal Sports Development Officer regretted that Colts soccer was dying out from the Municipality due principally to lack of funds. Ms Asiam said the activities of colts soccer were previously sponsored by Ajax with support to the then Goldfields Sporting Club but since that arrangement ended, Colts teams in the Municipality have failed to function as expected.

"The colts teams are no more organising competitions, but we need to revive this youth soccer, since it is an important area that can guarantee a better future for the youth", she said. Ms Asiam said accordingly a meeting has been held with the chairmen and secretaries of the various colts teams to address the problems of finance and lack of soccer equipments such as balls, jerseys, goalpost nets and boots.

"We want to solicit for funds for the teams so that we can start colts league this year. I am therefore appealing to all stakeholders, especially those in the Obuasi Municipality to support the programme", Ms Asiam added.

She added that her office had put in place plans to unearth sports talents within the physically challenged in the Municipality. "So far my office had identified that some of these people are keen on basketball and also good in table tennis".

Ms Asiam said she would contact the Municipal Chief Executive to see how best an almost abandoned basketball court in front of the Len Clay stadium could be rehabilitated and given to the physically challenged. She further appealed to the Municipal Assembly for a table tennis centre and volley ball courts to help in the development of these sporting disciplines.

On boxing, Ms Asiam said she had plans to get the Obuasi Amateur Boxing Association, which is now inactive to be reactivated but that would mean, 'We will need boxing equipment and a coach". 09 April 06