Soccer News of Thursday, 5 March 2009

Source: GNA

Football fans in Kumasi thrilled by Stars' Performance

Kumasi, March 5, GNA - Enthusiastic football fans in Kumasi on Wednesday night went into a frenzy with excitement soon after the Black Stars beat Senegal 7-6 through the penalty shoot-out in their semi-final encounter at the on-going African Nations Championship (CHAN) at Bouake, Cote D'Ivoire.

The feat which enabled the Stars to cruise to the grand finale of the maiden edition of the competition has paved the way for them to meet DR Congo on Sunday.

Some of the fans clad in the national colours of red, yellow and green shouted and cheered in joy as they went on a float through some principal streets of the Kumasi Metropolis.

In an interview with GNA Sports, Mr Desmond Otuo-Tuffour, a sports analyst commended the senior national team for sailing through to the finals in spite of their slow start in the tournament.

He said he has the hope that the qualification of the Stars' to the finals would boost the morale of the players to work hard to clinch the ultimate Cup for Ghana.

Mr Otuo-Tuffour observed that the Stars' qualification coming in the wake of the Black Satellites' recent victory in Rwanda, was a good omen for the nation and appealed to all and sundry to pray for the continued success of the team.

Mr. Albert Annan, a staff of the Ghana Commercial Bank said that it now behoves on the players to shun complacency as they meet DR Congo since their opponents also boast of a formidable team.

Grace Beauty Ade Ishola, a national service personnel said it was high time stakeholders in football, especially supporters and the Ghana Football Association (GFA) build and have confidence in local coaches adding that the sterling performance of assistant coach Kwasi Appiah in the on-going tournament was creditable.

She said that even though head coach Milovan Rajevac was the architect behind the Stars' performance, Appiah should also be praised for being able to implement the strategy of the head coach whilst he was consigned to the stands in the last two matches.