It was fun, excitement and football action at the Bukom Park
in the heart of Accra on Saturday and Sunday as the 2012 edition of telecommunication
giants, Tigo’s Community Soccer initiative got underway.
Mamprobi emerged champions after beating Asere in the final
to claim the cash prize of five hundred Ghana Cedis (GH¢500), a trophy, medals and
all the bragging rights in a widely talented Accra East zone. Asere got GH¢300 and
medals for their runner-up finish whilst Bukom who had a walkover Abola for 3rd place went home GH¢200 richer in a pool of 16 teams.
Accra East is one of two parts of Accra territory of the
Tigo Community Soccer, a
feast of football, played among competing neighborhood teams in selected
communities across the country. This year’s edition is set to be staged in five
territories-Accra, Eastern, Western, Northern and Ashanti running for two days
at each stop starting with elimination matches at the group stage leading to
the crowning of a community champion.
George
Afriyie, Chairman of the Black Satellites Management Committee and head of
juvenile football at the Ghana Football Association was the special guest at
the launch of this year’s event at Bukom with the support of Mr. Abdulai
Yakubu, Chief Director at the Sports Ministry who performed the traditional
kick-off.
“In
this country, I’m head of juvenile soccer so when we hear about competitions
like the one Tigo are doing here today, we are very interested. Our focus is to
tap talents at young ages and nurture them to become good players who can bring
glory to Ghana. So we say well done Tigo and we assure you of the GFA’s support
all the way,” Mr. Afriyie said as he officially launched the 2012 Tigo Community
Soccer.
Next on the itinerary after
last Saturday’s success in Bukom is Dansoman and Madina which complete the
Accra territory before travelling to Tema, Volta and Eastern regional capitals
Ho and Koforidua respectively who comprise the Eastern territory.
Communities which are interested in participating in the event
are required to contact the Tigo offices in their various regions. Western territory covers
Cape-Coast, Sekondi, Takoradi and Tarkwa. Northern covers Techiman with Ashanti
involving teams from Kumasi, Mampong, Konongo and Obuasi.
According
to Alfred Hammond, BTL Coordinator of Tigo who was chief in organization of the
weekend’s maiden soccer fiesta , the programme is the communication company’s
ideal way of paying back their valued subscribers.
“This
is part of our corporate social responsibility (CSR), it is to give back to the
communities who use our network. It’s also our initiative to promote grassroots
football in order to support communities and improve lives,” Alfred Hammond
said after presenting various prizes to deserving winners.
Accordingly,
Tigo seek to reward the winners with not just the cash, but also teach their
community at large about unity, team building, healthy competition and
aspiration to achieve success.
Mr.
Hammond continued: “Last but not the least, it gives opportunities for talents
to be discovered. We are doing this using FIFA accredited scouts and Glo Ghana
Premier League referees and managers. Examples that happened in Bukom are B.A.
United and DC United picking some players to come for trials.”