BY: Dennis Narterh Adzigodi, Ada.

The Dangme East Football Association (DFA) has elected new executives for a five year mandatory term taking over from the previous members. Those who suffered casualties during the recent election includes the incumbent Chairman of the Dangme East Football Association, Mr. Emmanuel Gamel Aryerh (AKA Coach Gamel) who lost unanimously to the newly elected Chairman Mr. Sellas Nimo in a well organized elections held in Ada last week .

The new Executive is made up of five permanent members who according to the Ghana Football Association (GFA) new rules have five years mandatory term to steer the affairs of sports activities in the district from 2011 to 2016. They include Mr. Sellas Nimo (Newly Elected Chairman), Bernard Tanihu (Vice Chairman) who was the Secretary to the previous administration, Zakaria Mensah (Financial Secretary), Kofi Sottie (Organizer), Lawrence Paani Opini (Secretary), Francis Annan (Public Relations Officer) and Bernard Avanu (Treasurer).

In an exclusive interview with the newly elected Vice Chairman, Mr. Bernard Tanihu, he was full of praise for the previous administration especially the outgoing Chairman, Mr. Emmanuel Gamel Aryerh for doing so well in re – branding sports in the district, notable amongst them being the recent Asafotufiami Football match organized by the Dangme East Football Association between the Youth Side of Accra Hearts Of Oak and Ada Eleven which was the first in the history of the Asafotufiam which even saw the Ada Eleven side inflicting a painful one nil defeat on the Premier league side under coach Boye Aryerh (AKA Opeele).

He said young sports talents abound in the Ada district but lack of sponsorships and management for these players by Opinion leaders, traditional authorities and the District authorities have always contributed to these talents going untapped and has therefore called on all especially the Rich in the district to invest in player management since it has now become one of the best lucrative businesses.

Speaking on the league in the district, he said the new administration will focus on increasing the number of clubs that will participate in the league through proper outsourcing for sponsorships to finance the league. Mr. Tanihu observed that, one of the major factors affecting the number of teams participating in the league was as a result of lack of funds to run these clubs. He mentioned other factors such as officiating and registration fees and pledged that the new executive will do their best to secure sponsorship deals for the league in order to get strong teams to represent the district at the second division level in the Tema Second division league.

He mentioned teams like Asigbekopey Invisible Atom who have participated in the previous years Second Division league at Tema but lack of Funds for officiating fee and Transport saw them relegated. He added that playing outside Ada will exposed these talented players to other big clubs in Accra and Tema and which could lead to some of them getting call ups into our national teams.

He was full of praise for players like Doetse Agbasie (now with Tudu Mighty Jets), Michael Gorleku (also with Pure Joy F.C) and others who have all played in the Ada colts and the Third division leagues and through their hard efforts are now playing for top clubs in the country and has urged all the young players in the district to emulate them and take their training very serious so that they can become the stars they dream of.

Mr. Bernard Tanihu was also thankful to the MP for Ada Hon. Alex Tettey Enyoh for donating balls and Jerseys which were used during the Asafotufiam Football Tournament and also Mr. Divine Otu Agorhom, NPP aspirant for Sege constituency during the 2000 elections who has also single handedly managed two players from the district and has even sent them for trials outside the country. He also thanked Dennis Narterh(AKA Dr. Nart), the CEO of Denart Soccer Academy in Ada for his good efforts of helping to develop and groom young talents in the district which in the long way will help develop colts’ football in the district and has called on all to support the Academy.

About plans of developing colts’ soccer in the district, he disclosed that , all the third division sides in the district would be required to have colts teams before they are allowed to participate in the league. He hinted that special committee will be put in place to effectively manage the colts’ league in the district.

He urged the District authorities and all the traditional leaders to do all that they can to mount metal goalposts on most of the football fields in the district especially the Big Ada Presby Park and the Ada Foah Dove Park which serve as the two main ceremonial parks in the district.

Finally, he called on corporate Ghana, Business men, foreign partners and other benevolent organizations and institutions to come and support football in the Dangme East District.