Soccer News of Thursday, 17 September 2009

Source: GNA

GFA seals FIFA Goal Three Project

Accra, Sept. 17, GNA - The Ghana Football Association (GFA) on Thursday sealed the third in the series of the FIFA Goal Project. The FIFA Goal Project is an initiative of the World Soccer governing body, FIFA, to develop sporting infrastructure towards developing National Associations.

The FIFA Goal Three Project in the country will see the GFA construct a state-of-the-art multipurpose Dinning Hall Complex at the Ghanaman Soccer Centre of Excellence in Prampram. The facility will also boast of a 200-seater Conference Hall to serve as a meeting place for the Football Association and the general public.

Kwesi Nyantakyi, GFA President at the signing of the commencement of works on the Project in Accra said it is valued at 425,000 US Dollars with FIFA taking up 400,000 US Dollars of its cost, being the benefit of the Goal Projects undertaking by Ghana.

The ceremony was climaxed by a symbolic signing of the contract to give way for the successful take off of the Project for the remaining 25,000 US Dollars will be borne by the Association.

Nyantakyi explained that the FIFA Goal Three Project is as a result of the maximum utilization of the two previous Projects undertaking by the GFA towards the development of football in the country. The first Project saw the construction of the Technical Centre dubbed "Ghanaman Soccer Centre of Excellence" at Prampram and the second is an ultra-modern Secretariat for the GFA as well as an artificial playing turf at Tema.

Sampon Kablan, FIFA Development Officer for West Africa said that the governing body has been impressed with the response of the two previous Goal Projects, hence its support for a third one. He advised the GFA to make good use of the Project to earn more Goal Projects from the global football body.

David Tetteh, Consultant for the Project assured that the facility will be ready for use after eight months. Nyantakyi signed on behalf of the GFA with Kablan signing for FIFA and Tetteh on behalf of Pro-Ark Limited, Consultants for the Project. Meanwhile, the GFA has presented sporting equipment to the 16 Premier League Clubs. The equipment, which was donated by FIFA is in line with the "Win in Africa with Africa" Project and geared towards equipping the elite Clubs.

Each Club received a set of cones, set of training bibs, six hand gloves, 19 shin-guards, 10 footballs, 10 training poles and 20 pairs of football boots.