Accra (Greater Accra), 5 July, 99 ?

A group of Ghanaian Christian professional and amateur sportsmen and women have formed an organisation geared at eradicating 'juju' and drugs from sports.

The Fellowship of Christian Sports Men and Women (FOCS), the brain-child of Rev. Samuel Korankye-Ankrah, Founder and General Overseer of International Bible Worship Centre (IBWC), in collaboration with some sportsmen, was inaugurated on Republic Day, July one.

Those behind the organisation include footballers Kwame Ayew, Samuel Osei Kufuor, Tony Yeboah and Stephen Appiah, all of whom play their soccer outside the country.

Others are Mr. Emmanuel Abukari, Head Coach of the National Jumpers, Ghana's high jump team, Mr Rex Danquah, a National Sports Consultant, Mr. Mawuko Afadzinu and Nii Lamptey Vanderpuiye, both Sports

Journalists.

Currently, the fellowship has a membership of about 100 footballers, athletes, hockey players, coaches in various disciplines, sports journalists and consultants, most of whom were drawn from the Ghana Police and Prisons Services.

Reverend Ankrah, who inaugurated FOCS, observed that "it is unfortunate how sportsmen and women across the globe erroneously equate success in their career to the use of juju and drugs.

"It is about time our sportsmen and women realised that promotion comes from God through discipline, devotion and prayers, rather than the use of juju and drugs, which have grave negative side effects on their users."

Reverend Ankrah urged Ghanaian sports men and women to be disciplined, train diligently, be submissive to their coaches and pray for God's favour and promotion.

He said FOCS would offer a forum for experienced sportsmen, consultants, lawyers, insurance experts and other professionals to advise members on how to manage their careers for optimum benefit and future security.

Reverend Ankrah said IBWC would also create contacts with Christian sports agents outside the country for overseas contracts in various disciplines for members of FOCS, adding that "we have already made contact with one such football agent in Italy."

The pastor invited all Ghanaian sportsmen and women and sports journalists to join FOCS and help shape the future of the country's sports sector "on godly principles".

He also called on retired sportsmen and women to join FOCS, saying: "FOCS offers you the chance of being rehabilitated, where necessary, to make it possible for you to pass on your experience to the present generation."

Mr. Rex Danquah, who is Chief Executive of Rex Image, asked sportsmen and women to manage their lives properly to ensure sustainability in their chosen careers.

He asked them to avoid excessive drinking of liquor, promiscuity, drugs and other practices, saying: "Learn from past sports personalities who fell victim to the mismanagement of their lives.

"You must also learn to study contract documents critically before you append your signatures to them to avoid being exploited by greedy sports agents."