Takoradi, Nov.12, GNA - The government is sourcing for funding from the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) for the construction of a mini Olympic Sports facility at Legon near Accra to boost the country's capacity to host international sporting events.

Papa Owusu-Ankomah, Minister of Education, Science and Sports said serious attention was also being given to the use of academicals or youth sports training programmes to prepare and manage the crucial resource base of sporting disciplines, especially football.

The Minister said these at the launch of the Twin-City Soccer Fiesta organized by the Ultimate Soccer Management in Takoradi on Saturday. Twin-City Soccer Fiesta is the gathering of football enthusiasts within Sekondi and Takoradi Metropolis towards the celebration of soccer with the involvement of the youth and the elderly.

The fiesta's main objective is to hunt for talents, rekindle the soccer spirit among the people and provide the needed support and encouragement to the management of various youth and senior football clubs to excel.

Papa Owusu-Ankomah said a Ghanaman Centre of Excellence had been established at Prampram in the Greater Accra Region to organise youth soccer training programmes.

He said sports, and for that matter soccer has been identified as among the "propelling sectors" that can contribute to the progress and development of the country's economy.

"Sports will not only bring direct financial benefits to the nation, but also a very potent tool to market the country and strategically position the country in the international arena to attract foreign investment", the Minister said.

Papa Owusu-Ankomah, who is also the Member of Parliament (MP) Sekondi, recalled the days when selection to the senior national team, the Black Stars was incomplete without "star players" from the Twin-City, and called on the people to work hard to "recapture the essence of passion for football in the Twin-City".

He described the initiative taken by Ultimate Soccer Management as "laudable and a good beginning", adding that the objective was in line with the Ministry's position to encourage the private sector to help towards unearthing and developing soccer and other sporting talents in the country.

Mrs Gladys Asmah, Minister of Fisheries and MP for Takoradi in an address delivered on her behalf said abundant sporting talents among the youth must not be allowed to go waste. She commended the Ultimate Soccer Management for the initiative and called for support and cooperation from individuals the public and private institutions to enable the organisers realise their ultimate objectives.

Mr. Philip Kwesi Nkrumah, Shama Ahanta East Metropolitan Chief Executive mentioned some of the economic and social benefits of soccer to the individual sportsman and the society and called on the people to channel part of their resources to support soccer and other sporting activities.

Mr. Emmanuel Turkson, Chairman of Ultimate Soccer Management promised to employ modern technical and management skills to bring unity, create wealth and boost employment through sports in the area. The function was presided over by Osahen Katakyi Busumakura III, Omanhene of Takoradi. 12 Nov. 06