Accra, June 30, GNA - The first ever Zongo Communities' soccer championship will kick off on Wednesday, July 23 this year. The event, an initiative of Krypton Ghana Limited will see twenty-four Zongo Communities in the Greater Accra Region competing for the ultimate.

Neil Armstrong Mortagbe, Chief Executive Officer of Krypton Ghana Limited at the launch of the championship on Monday said the event, which has the backing of the Ministry of Education, Science and Sports will offer the youth in the "Zongo's" to showcase their talent and position them to realize their potential.

He added that most of Ghana's foremost footballers were raised from such deprived communities such as the Zongo's, yet those communities are often synonymous with most of the negative aspects of society including armed robbery, drug usage, poor environments and delinquency. Mr Mortagbe explained that the championship is to radically change the long-held perception of the Zongo being a citadel for crime as well as develop sports at the grassroots level by laying a solid foundation for growth and excellence among the youth.

He outlined the concept which would ensure that each community will organize a local championship to select a winner to represent them towards the Regional championship.

"The local competition will hold from July 23 to August 31 with the finals fixed for October 13 to 19 at the El-Wak Sports Stadium." Dr Emmnauel Owusu-Ansah, Director of Sports at the Ministry of Education, Science and Sports pledged his outfit's support to the event, which he said has the potential to bring smiles on the faces of the inhabitant of the 'deprived' communities.

He alluded that the only three Ghanaian players to have won the African footballer of the year awards namely Ibrahim Sunday, Abdul Karim Razak and Abedi Pele Ayew were all products of the Zongo's which is an indication of the quality of talents abounding in the Zongo's.

Dr. Owusu-Ansah promised a token GH 1000 cedis to the organizers as the Ministry's initial contribution to the event, while calling on corporate bodies to support the project to make it successful and achieve its aim.

Mohamed Ahmed "Polo", a former player of Ghana's Black Stars and Accra Hearts of Oak also pledged his support and that of his other colleague retired footballers in making the event a success. He lauded the timing of the project which he envisaged will unearth talents for the various national teams.

Some communities expected to participate in the event are Accra New Town, Alajo, Abelenkpe, Akweteman, Abeka, Fadama, Darkuman, Kwashieman, Sukura, Town Council Line, Sabon Zongo, Adabraka, Tudu and Cowlane. The rest are Teshie, Nungua, Tema, Ashaiman, Ashaley Botwe, Madina, Kotobabi, Mammobi, Nima, Four-Four-One, Tunga-Mallam, Bubuashie, Anyaa and Bukom. 30 June 08