Soccer News of Friday, 11 October 2002

Source: gna

Sports writers disappointed with camping facilities for Stars

The Sports Writers Association of Ghana (SWAG) has expressed their disappointment with camping facilities for the senior national team, Black Stars as they prepare for their crucial African Cup elimination match against Rwanda on Sunday.

Mr Ebo Quansah, President of SWAG said this during the presentation 100 chairs to the association by Strong Plastics, manufacturers of Gye Nyame plastic chairs on Thursday. The Stars are currently camped at Kingsby Hotel at Achimota.

Mr Quansah said a hotel is not the best place for turning the minds of young men gearing up for such a crucial national assignment. "We are in this situation because after 45 years of independence the nation has not constructed any fitting hostel from where Sports men and women on national duty could prepare"

He said SWAG is serving notice to the authorities to consider upgrading the hostel facilities at the Winneba Sports College to serve this purpose or construct a decent facility for camping elsewhere.

"One of the excuses given for not upgrading facilities at Winneba to Standard is that the field is not adequate for effective training, but we believe that it is possible to provide this basic facility without breaking the bank.

"We are also disappointed by the lack of political will to use the power of sports as an important tool in nation building since sports have the potential to propel the nation to grater heights if proper directed and facilities provided"

On the Stars Sunday's match against the Rwandans, Mr Quansah said SWAG believes that the Stars are capable of scoring an emphatic win to signal a revival in the fortunes of the team internationally.

He cautioned the press to be circumspective in their reportage to build unity in camp and appealed to football fans to turn up in their numbers and cheer the Stars to victory.