Accra, June 19, GNA - Deputy Minister of Youth and Sports, Nii Nortey Dua, has said that he does not believe the absence of some "top players" would affect the performance of the Black Stars in their on-coming game against the Sudanese national team. "We have an all round team. I believe we are doing all that is necessary to win", he said.

Nii Nortey Dua said these in reaction with journalists at the Kotoka International Airport before departing to Kenya, where the Black Stars, are currently on a training tour. The Deputy Minister said with the extensive training the national team had gone through, as well as the level of expertise that had gone into their training regimen, the national team was definitely on a course to victory.

The Stars would leave Kenya en-route to Sudan for their qualifier which comes off on Saturday, June 20th. The game would determine qualification towards the African Cup of Nations, as well as the World Cup in Angola and South Africa respectively.

A few days ago, President John Evans Atta Mills, whilst visiting the national team at the El-Wak stadium in Accra, assured them of government's preparedness to ensure their qualification to the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

President Mills said football was crucial to the forging of national unity and urged the players to do their best to qualify for the World Cup to bring further glory to the country. The team is expected back on Monday, June 22nd. 19 June 09